List of clothes for the deceased at the funeral of a man and a woman

Funerals and death are events that every person will have to face. For many centuries, the process of forming rituals that deal with burial took place, and they originated in pagan times. There is an opinion that the extent to which burial traditions are observed affects what awaits the deceased in the other world. Not least in this matter is the funeral attire. Those who do not believe in Orthodoxy, under the current sad circumstances, also certainly ask the question “what should we bury the deceased in?”

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Preparing for the burial of dead people

Deceased people, regardless of age and gender, are usually buried in clothes and in compliance with certain rituals and procedures. First, the body is taken to the morgue, where it is:

• wash (this is done by morgue employees, specially hired people or acquaintances of the deceased, but not related to him, mostly women);
• retouch if there are visible scars on the face and open areas of skin;
• embalmed.

They are buried on the third day after death. For the funeral, they purchase a special mourning set for the coffin and vestments for the deceased, including shoes.

In the old days, the water remaining after washing the deceased was poured into a place where people almost never appear and there is no grass. The same was done with the water in which the dishes were washed after the funeral. The bowl in which the rag used for washing was soaked was broken and thrown away. People believed that in this way they would protect themselves from the return of the deceased from the dead in order to torment their relatives (in the form of a spirit, ghost).

Funeral dress from everyday wardrobe

What is needed for the burial of a young woman (girl) in Orthodoxy

If a young unmarried girl dies, many say that she becomes the bride of Christ. Because of this, it is customary for young ladies (especially innocent ones) to be buried in white wedding dresses. This tradition echoes pagan rituals.

But this is not a mandatory requirement. The girl can be buried in any clothes that her relatives choose:

• light dress;
• sundress;
• shirt and skirt;
• trouser suit, etc.

But it is better to buy clothes for the deceased woman of a modest style with long sleeves, without deep necklines and transparent areas. If relatives still decide to bury the girl in the bride’s dress, then her hair should be let down, and not styled in a complex hairstyle, and also abandon the veil. The dress itself should be of a classic style without complex darts or strange patterns. No decorations needed. The clothing of the deceased should evoke respect, not lust. According to Orthodox custom, a chain with a cross should be hung around the neck of the deceased.

Some features of the selection of funeral clothing

Clothing for a funeral ceremony is chosen based on existing traditions and the wishes of the deceased, voiced before death. It should be remembered that:

• It is customary for men to be buried in suits (a suit is the only thing that Orthodox Christians bury men in);
• women are buried in a dress or suit consisting of a skirt, blouse and jacket;
• clothes are chosen in discreet dark shades;
• The woman’s head must be tied with a blue or dark green scarf (this will help hide the blueness of her face);
• a suitable kit can be purchased at the funeral home;
• shoes are chosen one size larger than what the deceased wore during his lifetime;
• clothing must be appropriate for the season (in winter they are buried in warm clothes);
• clothes should fit in size, but if they are small or uncomfortable, then they can be cut at the back, it will not be visible (it is better to choose clothes even a little larger);
• all things must be new, an exception is made for cases when they want to bury the deceased in their favorite clothes or uniform;
• You can’t put a deceased person in the thunder, dressed in clothes from someone else’s shoulder, especially in the clothes of close relatives.

Clothing for a funeral for a woman or a man is traditionally black, dark blue or brown. But sometimes they are buried in what the deceased chose for himself before death. This could be your favorite floral dress or a pink wedding suit. In the West they take this calmly. But if the burial ceremony is accompanied by a funeral service, then before choosing clothes for the funeral, a priest is consulted.

Woman's headdress for a funeral

Funeral of men: how representatives of the stronger sex are buried according to Orthodox and secular custom

If the deceased man did not serve, then his body can be dressed in a white shirt, jacket, trousers, etc. If the deceased was a Christian, then it is not recommended to wear a tie. A tie or bow tie on the deceased is in the projection of the pectoral cross, therefore, according to Orthodox traditions, it is not suitable for a funeral ceremony. They are part of a secular ceremony. However, priests do not prevent the dead from wearing a tie if their relatives really want it. According to custom, it is recommended to buy funeral attire for older people in dark shades:

• blue;
• black;
• brown;
• dark green, etc.

When burying young men, it is worth buying a light-colored suit (beige, light gray, white, etc.). A standard set of clothing for a deceased man should consist of the following items according to the list:

• underwear (pants and T-shirt);
• shirts;
• classic trousers;
• jacket;
• vest (not a mandatory item);
• socks;
• a handkerchief (it can be effectively placed in the pocket of a deceased person);
• tie, etc.

Underwear and burial shirt should be made of cotton. Cotton fabric is more comfortable for a person, but the deceased no longer cares. Cotton is chosen for the reason that a person becomes numb after death, and things made from this material are quite easy to put on the deceased. Shirts made of synthetic materials hold their shape better, but they are difficult to dress the deceased in.

How to dress a dead woman

Women's funeral attire consists of:

• a skirt covering the knees in a dark shade;
• blue or green blouses;
• jacket to match the skirt;
• dark stockings or tights;
• underwear (some funeral agencies dress you in pantaloons and a nightgown);
• hard-soled slippers or flat shoes;
• a scarf on the head (the scarf should cover the hair, its ends cross under the jawline, without tying).

Clothes should not be decorated in any way; beads, rhinestones and even embroidery are not welcome. If necessary, if relatives do not know what to bury an elderly woman in, whose clothes, previously purchased for a funeral, have suddenly become too small, she is placed in a coffin in a shroud (funeral clothing). The suit on the list can be replaced with a dress with a shallow neckline. The neckline must be covered, and the jacket or blouse must have long sleeves.

An example of clothing for a woman's burial

Is it possible to bury a woman in trousers?

Not knowing what a woman is buried in, many try to purchase pantsuits for the ceremony so as not to bother with stockings. But burying a woman in trousers is undesirable. This is contrary to custom, which is why it is the dress or skirt suit that relatives most often choose to dress the deceased. Sometimes women are buried in light-colored dresses and suits, but usually light-colored clothing can only be seen on young deceased women.

Why unmarried girls are buried in a wedding dress, 3 reasons

Girls who did not have time to be married, but have already left infancy, are buried in a wedding dress or in an ordinary light dress. The custom of burying young people in wedding attire arose a long time ago and is associated with:

• white, as a symbol of innocence (the girl is handed over to Jesus Christ and becomes his bride);
• the fact that the soul of a deceased woman who has never been married is supposedly doomed to eternal wandering between the world of the dead and the living, which is dangerous for the latter (the ancient Slavs performed a ritual during funerals similar to the wedding ceremony and thereby protected themselves from a kind of revenge of the restless soul);
• fulfilling the deceased's dream of one day becoming a bride.

The deceased is not just dressed in a wedding dress, but also in all the attributes appropriate for the occasion - a wreath, shoes, a veil. In the villages they bake special “wedding” loaves, and previously they also chose a funeral groom, dressing the tree in a wedding wreath, which they then threw into the grave.

Clothes for single women

How to dress as a woman

Girls tend to have more difficulty choosing clothes than men. The fact is that not every woman has suitable sets in her wardrobe. Let's look at the basic rules of what to wear to a funeral:

1. The outfit should not be provocative; any showiness is disrespect for the deceased.
2. You shouldn't wear a very gloomy suit, it should be dark but elegant.
3. It is important to consider the time of year and weather conditions.
4. You cannot wear short skirts or deep necklines.
5. You should avoid any accessories, such as bracelets, brooches.

Note that it is worth paying attention not only to clothes, but also to makeup. It should be as unnoticeable as possible; if possible, it should be excluded altogether.

Acceptable options for how to dress for a funeral for a young woman include:

• pantsuit;
• dress below the knee, in summer you can have short sleeves;
• a blouse or sweater with a long skirt.

All specified outfits must be dark shades, without bright patterns, sparkles or rhinestones. Shoes should complement the look. It is worth abandoning high-heeled models. Firstly, it is inconvenient to stand on a large wedge for a long time or walk through a cemetery. Secondly, in some cases, the heel makes the image provocative.

As for accessories, as noted above, it is worth removing all jewelry. Exceptions are a wedding ring and small, discreet earrings. It is customary to wear a scarf or headscarf as a headdress. Modern women sometimes prefer a small hat with a mesh like a veil. This format is common in the West, but is not prohibited in Orthodox traditions.

Makeup for Russian funerals is not recommended by the Orthodox Church, as it is believed that a woman should be natural. It is also advisable from a practical point of view to give up cosmetics; people often cry at funerals, which leads to the blurring of cosmetics.

What clothes do men bury in?

The only thing that men are buried in, clothing during whose lifetime already rarely occupied a special position, is a suit. Mandatory attributes of a funeral kit are also:

• slippers;
• shirt;
• underwear;
• socks.

A tie, cufflinks or belt are not placed in the coffin along with the deceased, since it is generally not customary to tie anything. If a woman’s outfit has a belt (on a dress, for example), then it is not tied, folded crosswise on the lower back. Do the same with a scarf. An exception is made for men who during their lifetime could not imagine themselves without a tie or belt. In this case, it is permissible to tie a tie and wear a belt in your trousers. Cufflinks, like any other jewelry, are still rejected. And yet, how deceased men are dressed before the funeral is decided by relatives. If mom or brother likes cufflinks and other accessories, they are placed in the coffin.

How pregnant women and girls are buried

Pregnant girls, as a rule, are buried together with the fetus, without separating them, since it is believed that a small person who has not yet been born is one with his mother. A light-colored, loose-fitting dress should be worn on the girl’s body.

Young girls should be buried modestly, wearing a simple dress in light colors. Along with this, in some places the old custom is observed for young girls - they continue to be dressed in wedding attire. They are prepared for the funeral, like a bride for a wedding ceremony. However, the dress for such a ritual is not taken from a fashion studio, it is sewn by home craftsmen. At the same time, nails are usually removed from the shoes in which the girl is planned to be buried. Hair is not tied up; a veil or veil is allowed over the head.

If the deceased is a young married woman, then it is necessary to remove the wedding ring from her finger, put on a new dress and cover her head. Silver jewelry should also be removed. In this case, personal belongings (for example, glasses) must be placed in a coffin made with soft upholstery. It is also necessary to put a pillow stuffed with grass or sawdust and a special blanket.

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Church canons contain special instructions regarding what Orthodox women should wear. What is needed for this? As a rule, this set includes:

• headscarf;
• light outfit;
• clean underwear;
• cotton stockings;
• slippers with backs.

These clothes should be comfortable . If the deceased expressed some special wishes during her lifetime, you can, for example, replace slippers with shoes or use a light-colored hat instead of a scarf. In this case, it is important to focus on the size of the shoes - they should be chosen one size larger than the one that the deceased woman wore during her lifetime.

If the dress that was put on the deceased has a belt, then it does not need to be tied; its ends should be placed on top of each other in a cross. The same must be done with a scarf or scarf.

Of course, the relatives independently choose what to dress the deceased in. But, according to burial traditions, it is necessary to use a white robe.

The deceased must be carried forward feet first, then chairs should be placed in the place where the coffin was located and sit down . After this, the chairs should be turned over and left in this form for a day. When saying goodbye, family and friends need to kiss the deceased on the forehead, and at the cemetery throw a handful of earth into the grave. Commemorations are also provided on the third, ninth and fortieth day, as well as six months and a year later.

• Funeral rules for 1 year after death;
• Here you can read the rules for holding a funeral service on the 40th day after death;
• Panakhida for the departed: https://bogolub.info/panixida-po-usopshim-tekst-kak-zakazat-v-cerkvi-ili-vo-vremya-posta/.

What are Kazakhs buried in and how?

Preparing the body of a deceased Kazakh for burial begins with washing. Moreover, if the deceased was a man, then this task is entrusted to male persons; women are washed by women. The tools used for washing are buried near the grave. Kazakhs who profess Islam are dressed in:

• akyret (there are female and male versions of this national funeral costume - a shroud, the male one consists of 3 parts, and for women - 5);
• turban if a man died.

For akyret, a thick white cloth is needed, which is used to wrap the body and legs. A man's turban is made from the same fabric. The deceased, previously dressed in akyret, was also wrapped in a carpet, bandaged in three places. Now they can wrap me in felt. The ritual of placing the body in a shroud and sewing it is entrusted to the mullah. After reading all the necessary prayers over the body and performing rituals:

• distribute all the clothes of the deceased;
• they carry the body out of the house head first;
• they place the deceased on a wooden board and read a special prayer over him - zhanaza (only men are present at it);
• they carry the body to the cemetery, carrying it feet first.

During the burial of Muslims, only men are present; women at this time remain at home and perform the required rituals.

Burial of Kazakhs

Burial supplies

Without ritual accessories, no burial can be carried out. First of all, regardless of the method of performing the ceremony, a coffin is needed. His choice is influenced by many circumstances: cost, physical parameters of the deceased, type of funeral. For example, for cremation, a coffin made only from natural material is suitable. In addition to it, you will need a bed, a pillow, a blanket.

You should also purchase religious items according to the religion that the deceased professed. In addition, flowers will be required to decorate the coffin.

What are the Chinese buried in?

Traditionally, Chinese people are buried in white robes. Relatives and friends also come to the cemetery in white clothes and bring white flowers with them. This is what they did in ancient times. Nowadays, any clothes except red are used for funerals. This color is considered a symbol of life, therefore it is not used during burial, temporarily removing all objects of a red hue from the house.

Residents of China mortify the dead or burn the bodies in the crematorium. At the same time, it is extremely important that as many people as possible come to the funeral; to attract those who wish, relatives send out special invitations to everyone they know; they can bury or burn their favorite things with the deceased. It is believed that he will be able to use them in the afterlife.

Chinese burial ceremony

What to wear to a funeral for a man

Men should choose their clothing responsibly, although special problems rarely arise. The best options would be:

1. Classic suit with dark shirt.
2. Pants with a jumper or turtleneck.

Jeans are also acceptable, but they, like all of the above, must be dark shades. In footwear, preference should be given to shoes. Sneakers and sandals are not suitable even in warm weather.

In the fresh air in summer, a man can take off his jacket, provided that there is a dark shirt underneath. But indoors, the upper part of the suit will need to be put on again. The rule applies not only to the church.

Wearing jeans to funerals has become acceptable relatively recently. At the moment, only black models without holes or patterns are perceived normally.

What and how are homeless people buried?

Homeless people do not have a specific place of residence, and in most cases nothing is known about their relatives. The burial is handled by the state, allocating funds from the local budget. There is no funeral ceremony as such. The body is taken to the morgue by the police. It remains there until the autopsy and cause of death are determined. After the allotted time, the deceased is placed in a burial bag or in a simple coffin and buried in the nearest cemetery. There is a special place for these purposes.

It is impossible to cremate homeless people; there is always a possibility that after some time the relatives of the deceased will be found and they will want to visit the grave, conduct a church ceremony, or the circumstances of the death will become clear that may be of interest to the police. Everything is very complicated, homeless people die not at home, but on the street, the cause of death is quite easy to establish - cold, alcohol consumption. But sometimes, some time after death, it is also possible to find out why the person ended up on the street and what alcoholic drinks he drank. The perpetrators of the incident are found, the police have to conduct a second autopsy.

Mourning clothes in different nations

In Russia and Orthodox culture in general, black, dark gray and the like are considered mourning colors, but this is not accepted throughout the world. In particular, in the Far East (Japan, China) it is customary to dress in white for funerals. The same applies to the coffin and the food at the wake - everything should be light shades.

In African countries, when people bury a close relative, they paint themselves white and often dress the deceased in red. Interestingly, in China the deceased can be dressed in any color except red; it is believed that in this case he will become a ghost.

Funeral traditions in different countries of the world are largely related to religion and the history of the state. Today, the economic factor also plays a significant role; many refuse burial in favor of other ways to say goodbye to the deceased. Let's look at a few examples of mourning characteristics of different peoples:

1. In Sardinia, death is not considered a sad event; a person is escorted to another world in a colorful procession. It is customary to put on festive outfits and have fun.
2. In one of the regions of Austria there is a large shortage of land, so only rich people can afford burial. The general population donates the decorated skulls of their deceased relatives to the church for safekeeping. There are no burial traditions here as such, so mourning clothes are not provided.
3. In Madagascar, it is customary to perform ritual dances with the deceased in one’s arms. This is done not only by close relatives, but also by everyone who wants to say goodbye to the person. People wear folk costumes characteristic of each region.

As for the general features, they are associated with the desire to honor the memory of the deceased. And since many cultures believe in life after death, rituals are aimed at facilitating his path.

When choosing clothes for the funeral of a non-close relative, it is worth finding out what religion and culture the family of the deceased belongs to. If we are not talking about Orthodox people, then you should study in advance the rules and principles of farewell to the deceased, characteristic of this part of society.

Funerals are one of the few life rituals in which almost every person has ever participated. The funeral ceremony requires adherence to certain rules, some of which are related to the dress code. When bidding farewell to the deceased, it is customary to wear modest closed clothing in dark shades. In this case, black is not a mandatory color; dark gray or blue is acceptable. It is recommended to avoid bright jewelry, heels (for women), and the body should be covered as much as possible. Clothing for a funeral is not the most important, but significant element of the funeral ceremony.

What is forbidden to wear on the dead?

No one will judge the relatives if they dress the deceased in clean, but already worn, clothes. The color of the suit, fabric and texture also do not play a role in most cases. But there are some features here:

1. A negative attitude towards the color red, the answer to the question of whether one can be buried in a red dress is negative. In ancient times, brides were dressed in red, while white was the color of mourning. Now many people believe that this is the color of blood, which has no place at a funeral. Exceptions are made only for those people who adored red during their lifetime. It’s interesting that in China, scarlet is a symbol of all living things, so the dead there are also not buried in red. Ceremony directors, if invited, know exactly what is needed for a funeral for a woman and a man. The clergyman will help you not to make a mistake with the choice of clothes.
2. Beads, necklaces, rings and expensive earrings have no place in a coffin. The soul cannot take anything with it on its final journey, so jewelry placed in the coffin is more likely to attract looters than to help in the Heavenly world. Everything is removed from the deceased, including the wedding ring, if the second spouse is still alive. This is important, the soul of the deceased, with whom the wedding ring was buried, will not be able to rest, and over time it will drag the spouse along with it (Orthodoxy and paganism agree on this).

You cannot dress a deceased relative in the clothes of a close relative, be it a scarf or tights. Old things are things that are not buried in.

How do they dress the dead if they were military personnel?

What it is customary to bury males in usually differs little from their usual things. If the man was a soldier, then he is immersed in a coffin in a military uniform (ceremonial uniform). Those. this may be the same jacket that the person wore during his lifetime. No official permission from management is needed for this. All items are handed over to the morgue.

The uniform should be ironed, cleaned and holes sewn up if there are any. If the deceased had any awards, then all medals, ribbons and other insignia should be attached to the uniform. A cap must be placed on the dead man's head. It is necessary to refuse to dress the body in a uniform only if a person during his lifetime expressed a desire to be buried in an ordinary jacket. In all other cases, it is better to bury a person in his uniform.

The exceptions are contract soldiers and young people in the army. They often do not yet have any government awards, and military service is not yet their life’s work. Because of this, it is recommended that ordinary soldiers be immersed in the coffin in ordinary suits. But a loved one has the right to independently choose certain things.

Since females also perform military service, they can also be buried in uniform, but such issues can be resolved in advance. Those. women are often buried in civilian clothes (dress, skirt, beautiful jacket, etc.).

Where to buy clothes for a funeral

Special clothes for burial in Russia are offered for sale by funeral homes. If the deceased was a large or, on the contrary, a miniature person, then finding a suitable set will not be easy. As an option, contact the studio. Clothes should not be tight, it is better to take a size larger, all folds can be easily hidden. A simple dark skirt and blouse is definitely something that would not be embarrassing to bury an elderly woman in.

A ready-made funeral suit will cost more than a regular suit purchased in a store. But buying it has its advantages, one of which is that you can choose clothes of the size that is needed. Not all relatives have the strength and desire to take body measurements in order to go to the store with them and try to purchase everything they need. Many people do not know what young women, grandparents and children are buried in.

Is it possible to bury the dead in jeans?

Jeans are not formal wear. But a deceased person can be clothed in it, because... it is comfortable and familiar. Neither secular laws nor church rules directly prohibit putting jeans on the body of a dead person. Difficulties can arise only because the denim fabric has a too dense structure, and products made from it will be inconvenient to pull on a stiff body. If the deceased loved jeans during his lifetime and wanted to be buried in them, then his will must be fulfilled. However, it is better to purchase jeans several sizes larger so that you do not have problems putting them on. You can check the size matching list with the seller, explaining your situation.

Who should dress the deceased?

The morgue staff will dress the deceased if you first bring them a suitable set. But this can also be done by relatives or friends. In the old days, only women, elderly or unmarried, had to dress the deceased; the same rule applied to washing the body. Now this is no longer a ritual, but an ordinary everyday process that can be entrusted even to a stranger for a fee.

Seeing off the deceased on his last journey, the relatives understand that they will never see him again in this life. But many people don’t know anything about funerals, what they bury people in, or how it’s done. It is important to bury the body as it should be, with maximum observance of all required rituals. Particular attention is paid to the funeral set and clothing in which the deceased is planned to be placed in the coffin. Men are buried in dark suits, women in dresses or skirt suits. The color and texture of clothing depend on the age of the deceased and his preferences during life.

What do children wear on their last journey in Orthodoxy?

If a baby dies, he can be buried in swaddling clothes if no other things were purchased for him first. If the baby has been baptized, then he should be dressed in a long white baptismal shirt. Parents can also dress their child in a blue or pink suit. The color of the suit depends on the gender of the baby. The baby's head can be covered with a cap. If an older child has died, then you can put simply beautiful things on his body:

• elegant dress;
• stylish trousers;
• T-shirt with your favorite print.

Also, both girls and boys can be buried in traditional classic costumes. For girls, you need to choose a skirt that is below the knees, and for boys, dress them in classic-cut trousers.

Burial of Orthodox women

When buying clothes for the deceased, there is one basic requirement - it must be beautiful, but discreet at the same time. The most common outfit for women is a dress in light colors. It is important that there are no bright elements on it, no lace, deep neckline or decorations.

It should also be taken into account that it is best to buy new clothing - the deceased should not have worn it during his lifetime. This rule arose from ancient times, when it was assumed that after burial a person begins a new existence in the afterlife. In this regard, there should not be any memories from the previous life of worldly existence. If there is no opportunity to purchase something new, you can use used clothes, wash them thoroughly and iron them.

When choosing a color for an outfit, you should give preference to materials in light, pastel colors. Combinations of various elements are not prohibited - replace the dress with a light shirt or blouse and a black/brown skirt.

Light colors symbolize the purity of the deceased soul and the bright image of the deceased. You should not put trousers on a woman: according to Orthodox customs, this is strictly prohibited. A woman can only be buried in a dress or skirt - this is an important point in Orthodoxy.

In addition to the dress itself, the burial outfit includes underwear, socks, slippers with padded soles and a white headscarf or scarf.

Professional assistance with burial

Working for many years in the field of funeral services, the company has built a reputation as a reliable supplier and one of the largest distributors of funeral products.

Our stores have a large selection of funeral products. We will assist you in choosing funeral paraphernalia, based on your wishes and budget, and also organize the funeral of your relative at the proper level. You can call a funeral agent or apply for the purchase of burial items at any time of the day or night by phone.