09/02/2026
You may have noticed that our Funeral Director will bow their head a number of times whilst escorting loved ones on their final journey but have you ever wondered why?
Bowing, like many of the funeral traditions we still honour today likely stems from the Victorian era and whilst a relatively small and simple gesture it is one of deep meaning.
Our Funeral Director will bow before leaving our funeral home, once they have paged (ceremonial walk), before commencing paging at the house or service location and then again upon arrival at the house or service location.
On each occasion this bow is performed as a mark of respect, a moment where we can, in some small way honour the individual we are escorting on what will be their final journey.
Bowing is also used within service venues such as churches, crematoria etc as a way for us to provide a professional service to families, one where we look disciplined, uniformed and in sync. For example, once we have placed a loved one on to the catafalque (ceremonial raised platform) at a crematorium the bearers will all bow, turn together and move off as one, this signifies that they have fulfilled their duty and have now been dismissed.
