Why do you cover the face when someone dies?

Many early burial rites and customs were practiced to protect the living, by appeasing the spirits who were thought to have caused the person’s death. Family photographs were also sometimes turned face-down to prevent any of the close relatives and friends of the deceased from being possessed by the spirit of the dead.

Why do they put plastic on dead bodies?

This study has shown that the elastic property of the cling film plastic wrap can withstand and able to accommodate the expansion of the dead bodies from decomposition changes. Similarly, its body fluid resistant property has contributed to the ability to contain the body fluid as a result of the decomposition process.

Why do you cover a mirror when someone dies?

The Irish wake is a well-known funeral tradition where the family of the deceased covers all mirrors in the home. To hide the physical body from the soul, the family turns mirrors to face the wall. They cover mirrors with black material to ease the deceased’s journey into the afterlife.

Why do it rain when someone dies?

The rumble of thunder following a funeral has long been accepted as a sign that the deceased was accepted into heaven [source: Roud]. While rain during a service or burial may make a sad day even gloomier, it too is a good omen that the deceased is heaven-bound [source: Friends of Oak Grove Cemetery].

Do I have to cover the face of a dead person?

I attend deaths all of the time- and usually the only time the decedent’s face is covered (along with the rest of their body) is when they are in a public place. Sometimes decedents need to be left exactly where they are for several hours. Evidence needs to be collected, the scene needs to be documented, and accurate measurements are taken.

Why do people wear masks when someone dies?

Sometimes they were used to force the spirit of the newly dead to depart for the spirit world. Masks were also made to protect the deceased by frightening away malevolent spirits.

Why are anthropomorphic masks used in funeral customs?

In cultures in which burial customs are important, anthropomorphic masks have often been used in ceremonies associated with the dead and departing spirits. Funerary masks were frequently used to cover the face of the deceased.

Do the dead have a right to ceremonial care?

Perhaps one of the stronger horrors that a Jewish person could imagine was stated in Psalm 78: They have thrown the bodies of thy servants as food for the birds of heaven; wild beast feast on the corpses of the just. The dead, therefore, had a right to ceremonial care.