When & how to bow as a Funeral Celebrant
Funeral services like many ceremonies are steeped in tradition and ritual. There are a number of expected protocols that a new Funeral Celebrant must be aware of. A Funeral Celebrant needs to know how they are expected to behave when they are delivering and leading a funeral service. Protocols at a funeral service includes where to stand, where and when to walk with the coffin and the most significant is bowing.
Some celebrants will want to do things differently, but most professional funeral celebrants will want to be booked by traditional Funeral Directors. Consequently, they need to understand the protocols for a traditional funeral service and in particular, when and how to bow.
Some celebrants will want to do things differently, but most professional funeral celebrants will want to be booked by traditional Funeral Directors. Consequently, they need to understand the protocols for a traditional funeral service and in particular, when and how to bow.
Why, how and when to bow?
Funeral Directors, Funeral Conductors, Coffin Bearers and Funeral Celebrants bow towards the coffin as the highest mark of respect to the deceased.
It is not a religious gesture. Some Christians, especially Catholics, will cross themselves when they see a coffin. But bowing to a coffin is a sign of respect practiced by people of all religions and of none. it is about showing dignity to the deceased. They are not alive to witness it and so it is done to be bring comfort and show support to the next-of-kin and the deceased's family and friends.
The bow is, what I would describe, as a half bow. It is more than a nod of the head. But less than a traditional deep bow commonly practised in south-east Asian countries like Japan, Korea and China. It last no more than 3 seconds.
Wannabe Funeral Celebrants often ask "when do you bow?" as the answer to this question appears to cause the most anxiety. The quick answer is, bow whenever you see others bow. Then you can't go wrong!
Different Funeral Directors will have slightly different traditions. Some want to create a significant pomp and ceremony to the funeral. For example, they will wear long tailcoated jackets, carry black canes and top hats and walk in front of the hearse as it arrives at the chapel. Other Funeral Directors however, will adopt a more informal and relaxed feel for their funerals. As a professional Funeral Celebrant, you want to work with a range of FDs, so the easiest way to know what they expect from you is to ask.
Upon arrival of the hearse, the coffin bearers may line up on the kerbside and bow as the hearse arrives. If this is what they do, you should join them at the end and bow at the same time.
When the coffin is successfully on the shoulders of the bearers, the Funeral Director or Conductor will give a signal for the bearers to start walking, this might include them bowing, in which case, you bow then too. I have one FD who will wait for me to bow towards the coffin outside of the chapel before he gives the instructions to the bearers to start walking.
When inside the chapel, the bearers will place the coffin on the catafalque and when straighten the coffin before moving away. Sometimes, they will all bow together and leave immediately, others may simply stand beside the coffin until the FD, who will at this point be showing people to their seats, comes over and dismisses them with a bow. At these time, as Celebrant, you will be at the lectern getting ready but also be aware of when the others are bowing because...guess what? You bow then too.
When the FD and bearers leave the chapel you will then start your service when the music fades. There is no more bowing until the end of your service. When you finish, you individually make another bow and then wait for the FD and Chapel Attendant to enter who will then make their final bow towards the coffin on the catafalque. You bow at the same time and for the last time.
In our module called the "Confident Performance Masterclass", all the protocols you need to know before, during and after a funeral service, including bowing, is explained. You can also watch a number of example funeral services where I give a voice-over commentary explaining what and why I am doing what I am doing.
It is also helpful to observe other funeral officiants too, ministers and clergy will be bowing as much as celebrants.
It is not a religious gesture. Some Christians, especially Catholics, will cross themselves when they see a coffin. But bowing to a coffin is a sign of respect practiced by people of all religions and of none. it is about showing dignity to the deceased. They are not alive to witness it and so it is done to be bring comfort and show support to the next-of-kin and the deceased's family and friends.
The bow is, what I would describe, as a half bow. It is more than a nod of the head. But less than a traditional deep bow commonly practised in south-east Asian countries like Japan, Korea and China. It last no more than 3 seconds.
Wannabe Funeral Celebrants often ask "when do you bow?" as the answer to this question appears to cause the most anxiety. The quick answer is, bow whenever you see others bow. Then you can't go wrong!
Different Funeral Directors will have slightly different traditions. Some want to create a significant pomp and ceremony to the funeral. For example, they will wear long tailcoated jackets, carry black canes and top hats and walk in front of the hearse as it arrives at the chapel. Other Funeral Directors however, will adopt a more informal and relaxed feel for their funerals. As a professional Funeral Celebrant, you want to work with a range of FDs, so the easiest way to know what they expect from you is to ask.
Upon arrival of the hearse, the coffin bearers may line up on the kerbside and bow as the hearse arrives. If this is what they do, you should join them at the end and bow at the same time.
When the coffin is successfully on the shoulders of the bearers, the Funeral Director or Conductor will give a signal for the bearers to start walking, this might include them bowing, in which case, you bow then too. I have one FD who will wait for me to bow towards the coffin outside of the chapel before he gives the instructions to the bearers to start walking.
When inside the chapel, the bearers will place the coffin on the catafalque and when straighten the coffin before moving away. Sometimes, they will all bow together and leave immediately, others may simply stand beside the coffin until the FD, who will at this point be showing people to their seats, comes over and dismisses them with a bow. At these time, as Celebrant, you will be at the lectern getting ready but also be aware of when the others are bowing because...guess what? You bow then too.
When the FD and bearers leave the chapel you will then start your service when the music fades. There is no more bowing until the end of your service. When you finish, you individually make another bow and then wait for the FD and Chapel Attendant to enter who will then make their final bow towards the coffin on the catafalque. You bow at the same time and for the last time.
In our module called the "Confident Performance Masterclass", all the protocols you need to know before, during and after a funeral service, including bowing, is explained. You can also watch a number of example funeral services where I give a voice-over commentary explaining what and why I am doing what I am doing.
It is also helpful to observe other funeral officiants too, ministers and clergy will be bowing as much as celebrants.
I am David Willis.
After a long career as a business educator and now a Professional Celebrant, I offer you my Celebrant Training School.
My mission?
To help train and develop other people who would also like to run a successful celebrant business.
After a long career as a business educator and now a Professional Celebrant, I offer you my Celebrant Training School.
My mission?
To help train and develop other people who would also like to run a successful celebrant business.
Contact
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Contact form
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david@acorn2oakceremonies.co.uk
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+44 07865 400 312
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