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What You Should Know When Selecting Funeral Mass Attire
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.
When a Catholic passes away, the traditional services consist of three parts, the second of which is known as the Requiem. During this event the deceased is honored and their soul is prayed for and comfort is provided to all who are grieving. The occasion rarely lasts longer than an hour and a half.
When attending any religious service, one should take particular care to dress in a respectful way. Casual attire such as denim jeans, shorts and sweat suits are most definitely considered inappropriate for such an occasion. The general rule of thumb is to wear conservative clothing that is suitable for church and business.
Men are encouraged to wear suits and ties or at least a pair of dress pants and a button up shirt, all in neutral tones. Women should choose dresses or skirts that have a hemline long enough to cover the knees when standing or sitting, or a conservative pantsuit. Bright colors, bold patterns, bare shoulders and immodest necklines are strongly discouraged.
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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