A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of Etiquette, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition. Generally, state funerals are held in order to involve the general public in a national day of mourning after the family of the deceased gives consent. A state funeral will often generate mass publicity from both national and global media outlets.
History
State funerals already existed in
Ancient history. In ancient Athens, for example, fallen soldiers were regularly buried in a public ceremony.
[Wienand, Johannes (2023). Der politische Tod. Gefallenenbestattung und "Epitaphios Logos" im demokratischen Athen The. Historia Einzelschriften, vol. 272. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, .] In the Roman Empire, a state funeral (
funera publica) could be instructed by the senate for the city of Rome, whereas city councils could instruct a communal state funeral.
[Wesch-Klein, Gabriele (1993). Funus publicum. Eine Studie zur öffentlichen Beisetzung und Gewährung von Ehrengräbern in Rom und den Westprovinzen Funus. Heidelberger Althistorische Beiträge und Epigraphische Studien, vol. 14. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, .]
By country
Czech Republic
Canada
India
On 17 November 2012,
Bal Thackeray was accorded a state funeral in the city of Mumbai. On 10 October 2024, businessman
Ratan Tata was given a state funeral in
Mumbai.
Former Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh was given a State funeral on 28 December 2024.
Italy
In
Italy state funerals are granted
by law to the Presidents of the constitutional entities, such as the Presidency, the Parliament, the Government and the Constitutional Court, even after their terms have expired, and to Ministers who died during their term in office. State Funerals can also be granted, by decree of the Council of Ministers, to people who gave particular services to the
Italy; to citizens that brought honor to the
Italy; or to citizens who died in the line of duty, or were victims of either
terrorism, or
organized crime.
The official protocol provides for
-
the coffin surrounded by six members in high uniform of either the Carabinieri or the same Armed Forces the departed belonged to;
-
an honor guard to the coffin at the entrance and the exit of the place in which the ceremony is held;
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the presence of one representative of the Government;
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an official commemorative oration;
-
other honors that can be arranged by the Prime Minister.
Public mourning, either national or Mourning, is declared following the dispositions of the Prime Minister's decrees. The flags are flown at half-mast outside of public buildings, while inside they display two black ribbons, with the exceptions provided for military flags, when required by military protocol.
If the departed held a public office, the body can lie in state in the building of the office's institution. In other cases it is followed the will of the family, the traditions of the office or the local customs.
Outside of the cases provided for by the protocol, for example during Natural disaster that deeply impact the community, solemn funerals can be arranged and the six people who carry the coffins are members of the Civil Protection.
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
See also
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List of people who have received a state funeral
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Funeral train
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Limbers and caissons
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Lincoln Catafalque
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Lying in repose
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Lying in state
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Military funeral
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Missing man formation
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Riderless horse
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State funerals in Canada
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State funerals in the United States
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Vigil of the Princes
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State Funeral (2019 film)
Further reading
