Filipinos have continuously practiced the unique beliefs during burial and funeral service in the Philippines. These practices came from our ancestors. While some of these beliefs are influenced by our invaders and neighboring country such as China. Wearing of mourning or black bar pins during the funeral is an example of the Chinese influence that Filipinos embraced during the funeral service.

Such beliefs may vary from region to region and also, religion. Filipino Muslims bury their dead family member within 24 hours. While we bury the dead in a cemetery whether its public or private, Filipino Muslims lay their deceased loved one to rest in their own property. Similarly, they also mourn for 40 days and wear black clothing the whole year.

These beliefs during burial and funeral service in the Philippines make Filipinos unique. Here are the most popular practices:

Mirrors are prohibited or anything that shows reflection.

Whether the viewing service is held at the residence, funeral chapel or mortuary, mirrors should be covered or anything that shows reflection such as TV or computer monitor. It is believed that the dead will try to show themselves in the mirror. If you check yourself regularly on a mirror, better avoid doing it when you are at the funeral. Otherwise, you might see another figure.

Family members aren’t allowed to take a shower or comb their hair where the wake is being held.

It is believed that it can cause your death. But you can tidy yourself up in other places such as in your cousin’s house if the wake was held in your home or at home if the viewing service is in a mortuary or funeral chapel.

Do not sweep the floor.

Although cleaning is next to godliness, you can’t sweep the floor during the wake. Our ancestors believed that sweeping the floor means driving the spirit of the dead away. However, you can pick up the dirt or wipe the floor with a wet cloth.

Do not bring home food that was served in the funeral and during the internment.

It’s bad luck. Food is served during the viewing service is meant for the visitors and for the ‘watchers’ (those who stay awake overnight to watch the dead person). Also, the snacks served at the cemetery after the burial must be consumed and must not be taken home. Others believed that taking home the leftovers means that the spirit of the dead can follow you home and cause death in the family.

There must be someone who is watching the casket.

Coordinate with the family members or relative to schedule who is going to watch the casket. There must be someone watching over the deceased 24/7. Or else, the dead body will be snatched by an ‘aswang’ or a supernatural entity. Playing cards and mahjong have helped entertain the people to stay awake. Although in some towns, playing mahjong and cards aren’t allowed especially when betting is involved.

A candle must be continuously lit during the entire viewing service and during the 40-day novena.

Lighting a candle means lighting the way of the spirit to the afterlife. The spirit of the departed might get lost or will have difficulty traveling to wherever it is going when the path is dark or the candle has no more light. When lighting a new candle, light it with the previous one before blowing it out.

Avoid wearing red or bright colors.

Wearing black, white or dark color clothes show that you are mourning. When attending a viewing service, avoiding to wear red or bright colors also show that you are supporting your friend whose family member died and that you are mourning with them. On the contrary, children can wear red clothes to protect them from seeing spirits especially when they are sleeping. Spirits may appear in their dream.

More about What to Wear to a Funeral Service in the Philippines here.

Touch the coffin but avoid dropping your tear on it.

In some provinces like in the Visayas, when attending a wake, you must touch the coffin but avoid dropping your tear on it. It is believed that touching the coffin means you have let go so his or her spirit can travel smoothly to the afterlife. Dropping a tear on the casket might hinder or can cause difficulty in traveling as it means that you haven’t let this beloved departed go.

Do not say ‘Thank you’ nor send off the visitors

In spite that Filipinos are known for our hospitality and politeness, you are not allowed to say ‘Thank you’ when someone offers their condolences. Saying ‘Thank you’ means you are glad that the person is dead. In relation, you must not send off the visitors or show them the door when they are leaving. Sending them off means that you might be the next to die.

Walk under the casket when leaving the house and entering the church during the internment.

This is observed in some provinces, male family members or close relatives will carry the casket and lift it enough for the family and relatives to walk under the casket when leaving the house and entering the church for the final blessing.

When carrying the casket out of the house or mortuary, the part where the legs are will be the first to exit the door. Momentarily stop just outside the door to let the family and relatives pass under the casket. When entering the church, the deceased must face the altar. Just outside the church door, the family and relatives pass under the casket. Your local funeral service provider must know this practice. This practice is to prevent death to come to the family.

You are not allowed to attend two or more funerals in a day.

In the Philippines, it is bad luck. If you visit two or more funerals in a day, you or someone in the family might die.

Pregnant women aren’t allowed in the funeral.

Going to a funeral might cause difficulty in delivering the baby or worse, the death of the baby.

Walk over a burned grass or guava leaves at the cemetery before going home.

This is to prevent the spirit of the dead to follow you to wherever you are going especially when you are going home.

These are a few of the common beliefs during the burial or funeral service in the Philippines. It can defer from other regions in the country, religion, and/or ethnicity. Ultimately, we hold a funeral service to remember our deceased loved one and to mourn their death as this is the first step in letting go in order for us to move forward. Read more about How to Cope With Grief after the death of family member here.

The next time, you are going to an internment or funeral service in the Philippines, it is best to ask a friend as to what to wear and other practices observed in the area. You might feel bad that your friend whose father passed away didn’t say ‘Thank you’ when you offer your condolences or doesn’t show you the door when you are about to leave.

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