Unlike other religious groups, Christians embroider symbols into their shrouds. A trained group will wrap a special shroud called a winding-sheet, around the body of the deceased, and tie a thin cloth called a coronet around the forehead. Shrouds are less common in the Christian tradition, but some Orthodox practitioners do still celebrate the custom of dressing their dead in a shroud. The group will place the deceased person's hands in the prayer position to close the ritual. This includes the forehead, nose, hands, and the tips of the toes. They then anoint every part of the person’s body that touches the ground when praying with perfume or sandalwood.

After cleaning, they’ll dress the body in a traditional shroud called a “Kafan.” If the deceased is a woman, they’ll also wash her hair and weave it into three braids. They also take care to wash the body before adorning it with the shroud. The ritual ends with them covering the nose and mouth with pieces of pottery. Once finished, they will then lay the head on a pillow with some soil taken from Israel in the pillowcase. They dress the deceased in the shroud and tie it to the body. This is a ritual purification or a Mikveh. The group recites a prayer and goes to work, cleaning the body with cold water. They then remove all jewelry and nail polish from the corpse and examine the body. Then the leader will say a prayer that asks for forgiveness for anything that might go wrong during the Taharah. First, they wash their hands three times and put on protective gloves to avoid any possible infection. In the Jewish tradition, they call the ritual of dressing the body in a shroud, “Taharah.” This takes at least four people, with one person acting as the leader. Many companies will list the directions online, which can help you know what you’re getting into before purchasing. If you prefer to prepare the body yourself, make sure to read the shroud’s instructions before getting started. Once you’ve selected the shroud you want to use for your burial, ask the funeral home to dress the body. » MORE: Make a will with Cake for $96 and a 100% money back guarantee. Today shrouds are commonly used in green burials, which helps these services be less damaging to the environment than traditional burial services.ĭue to the increased interest in environmentally safe burial practices, burial shrouds are beginning to grow in popularity. However, you can also find shrouds that naturally preserve the body. These materials are biodegradable and will allow the body to decay after burial. Shrouds are almost always created from natural fibers. You can purchase them in various sizes, fabrics, and styles. Different cultures create Burial shrouds from cloth, animal skin, or plants like bamboo. What's a Burial Shroud?Ī burial shroud is a large cloth that can be made from a variety of materials. This information can help you decide if a shroud is right for your situation. In this article, we will explore different shroud traditions and approaches to the shrouding process. Now there are lots of options for burial shrouds, including green options that are biodegradable and inexpensive. Burial shrouds were used in the ancient world and made from animal hides. Shrouds are customary in many religions, including in Christian, Muslim, and Orthodox Jewish faiths. Should You Buy or Make a Burial Shroud?.The purpose and style of the shrouds differ from culture to culture, and even from person to person. Historically, shrouds were used by religious groups as part of their burial services, and these traditions still exist. Generally, shrouds preserve and protect the corpse while also covering the body from prying eyes and hungry animals. A burial shroud is a cloth that's wrapped around the deceased person's body before burial or cremation.

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