From the Southeast Asian country of Laos, which borders Thailand and Vietnam, originates the Laotian funeral, a memorial service full of tradition and honor. During this somber yet expressive spectacle, relatives of the deceased must shave their head and eyebrows before they are able to serve as “monks for the day.” This is an honor for these novice monks, who then join other Laotian monks from local temples to perform the chanting for the deceased during the ceremony. Laotians also recruit their own Thai Buddha, making for a beautiful and honorable service with their unique tradition in full force.
Following the funeral, the monks from the temple hold a rope, which is tied to the casket. The casket is lead on an indirect route to the crematory where the monks and relatives witness the cremation. This roundabout journey is meant to confuse evil spirits.
As another uniqueness of the procession, there is a family member behind the casket holding a bowl of money wrapped in foil. To distract the attention of evil spirits away from the deceased, relatives then throw the money at funeral directors or assistants. Money is also folded into triangles and affixed to an assortment of wreaths, which are carried by the family members. As the final step in the ceremony, money-adorned wreaths are given to each monk as a way of thanking them for their participation in the journey the loved one made from this life to the next.
If one day you have the honor of serving a Buddhist family and are tipped, you should absolutely take the tip. To not take it would insult the deceased and their family. The same goes for the monks and their gifted wreaths. In providing these offerings, the family is able to show their appreciation for everything that has been done for their deceased loved one.
By listening and creating a place of openness and respect, your funeral home can become a destination for the non-traditional memorial services of surrounding cultures. This is invaluable to funeral homes located in the melting pots of America, such as Los Angeles or Washington D.C. Outreach is also a big factor. Meeting with local subcultures can give you a deeper understanding of the needs and traditions of the many communities around you. This can also provide you with the correct avenue to let people know what you can do for them, the services you provide, and how this sets you apart from competitors.
As described in The Cremationist magazine Vol. 51, Iss. 2 titled “Know Your Community: Build Your Business,” the more interest and drive you put into learning from different cultures and religious traditions, the more your business’ relationships—and profits—can grow. The Cremationist is an exclusive benefit to CANA members—explore their website to learn about the other resources CANA provides to members.
Blog Resources
Source 1 name: Connecting Directors
Source 2 name: CANA
Source 2 URL: https://www.cremationassociation.org/blogpost/776820/328232/Cremation-for-a-Growing-and-Diverse-Population