Funeral Traditions in Australia

A man paying respect at a graveyard

Saying your final goodbyes to your loved one is a sombre yet memorable experience. Preparing your loved ones funeral however will soon prove difficult in more ways than one, as there are many different options and choices families must decide upon. Funeral traditions in Australia vary quite a bit due to our diverse melting pot of various cultural backgrounds, each with their own methods and customs in grieving their loss. That's why we've made this article to discuss the various funeral traditions in Australia alongside different ideas that may resonate with you and give you some additional options you may not have thought of.

Funeral Types

The first thing in deciding on your loved ones funeral is what type of funeral should be held for them. There are many different types of funerals and we will make a non-exhaustive list here of the more common choices one can have.

  • Traditional Funeral

A traditional funeral in Australia mainly consists of three major components, the first being viewing or visitation, then comes the funeral service itself, and then finally the burial ceremony. Traditional funerals will often feature a coffin at the front of the service.

  • Cremation Service

One of the most common options for families conducting end-of-life care for their loved ones is a cremation service. A cremation is where the remains of the individual are exposed to intense heat which will then turn into ashes. Cremations can include a funeral service but do not have to,  and their cremation will normally be followed either with a scattering ceremony or with the purchase of a cremation urn to hold their loved ones ashes.

  • Scattering Ceremony

Scattering ceremonies usually involve the loved ones' cremation ashes being placed into a scattering tube or into a cremation urn and then taken into their favourite location for their to be scattered into the wind. This type of ceremony will normally be conducted with family and friends to say their final goodbyes. 

  • Direct Burial

Direct burial is one of the more affordable options for afterlife care. This type of funeral only involves the transporting of the body to the grave site for burial or cremation. There is no viewing, visitation or funeral service and normally families conducting a direct burial will hold a service of their own.

  • Memorial Service

A memorial service, sometimes called a wake service, is something becoming more popular for the younger generations. This funeral type is more of a celebration of life and doesn't actually have a body present, rather it is an informal service and allows families and loved ones to reminisce on their life.

Customs and Rituals

Now that the funeral type is chosen we can discuss other different types of customs and funerary rituals that can be conducted. These are ideas that you may or may not want to incorporate into your loved ones funeral, it all entirely depends on who they were as a person, what you want for them and what will fit in the service itself.

Dove Release

Releasing doves can be a very symbolic gesture for a loved one, indicating a release from their suffering and peace in the afterlife. Normally these can be done at the end of a funeral or memorial service.

Candles

Lighting candles can be a touching way of guiding their spirit to the afterlife. Candles can also provide a soothing and calm presence for the guests of the funeral.

Flags

Presenting or having the national flag flown of the deceased can be a beautiful way to show the love for their country. These don't necessarily need to be a country's flag, but can also be other flags that they would have proudly displayed.

Music

Playing the loved ones' favourite music or even having a live musician come for the service is another way to pay respect to them.

Butterfly Release

Releasing butterflies can have a similar effect of a dove release as being a symbolic representation of death and the loved one being passed on to the afterlife. This custom is generally good to be used in an outdoor setting particularly in nature

Tree or Flower Planting

Depending on the area of the burial, a tree or flower planting can be a great option. This is a really touching way of representing life after death and your loved ones body, spirit and essence naturally providing growth and living on.

Planning a funeral can be incredibly difficult but we hope that this article has provided some clear insights on different traditions and also customs that you can incorporate into your loved ones funeral to make it all that more special. As Australia's largest urn store, Eternal Urns has an extensive range of the best quality cremation urns and scattering tubes available, so check out our range today.