We watched Grayson Perry on Rites Of Passage last night on Channel 4. It is true that as a more secular society we are in danger of losing ritual elements around death which religions are so good at. We think being able to sit with the dead in beautiful surrounding, to light candles, lay flowers and tell stories around the coffin is an important ritual.
Also we train funeral celebrants across the UK and an important part of our training is about how to include ritual in funerals which are not affiliated to a religion. Rituals make the funeral more meaningful. For its simplicity I loved the walk the family did around the familiar streets for the 17 year old who was killed when he was knocked off his bike. Carrying photos of him and memorabilia it was a powerful statement to mark what would have been his 18th birthday.
