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What To Expect When Picking Funeral Mass Clothing Options
Catholic rites for the dead are quite formal and filled with ritualistic prayers and recitations. For those who are not part of this religion, there may be some confusion as to how they should behave when attending these services. There are some general guidelines about how one should dress when going to a funeral mass.
Also known as the Requiem, this is the second of the three traditional Catholic services held when a member of the church dies. The primary purpose is to honor the memory of the deceased, to pray for their soul and to give comfort and care to those who are grieving. This event generally lasts about an hour and a half.
Respectful clothing should be worn to any memorial service, especially those being held in a religious setting. Sweats, shorts, tee shirts, shorts and jeans are much too casual for these types of occasions. A simplified tip is to dress as if one were going to church or to a very important business meeting.
Suits with ties, or a nice dress pants and shirt combination in neutral tones are appropriate choices for men. Ladies wearing skirts or dresses should opt for articles which sport hemlines at least long enough to keep the knees covered when sitting or standing. Conservative pantsuits are acceptable but bold patterns, bright colors, deep necklines and bare shoulders are not.
In Catholic service of this type, men are not to wear hats inside the building. Women, however, are encouraged to cover their heads with a hat, scarf or veil out of respect. Some chapels and parishes may even have veils available for those who do not have them since this is not a common daily practice.
Catholic services have some ritualistic actions that are performed during the proceedings such as the kissing of the priest's hand, statues and icons. Out of respect and courtesy, lipstick should be well blotted beforehand to avoid leaving marks behind. Modesty and conservativeness are the keys to properly dressing for a funeral mass.
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