How to Behave at a Funeral- the Southern way

We Southerners are mostly known for our Scarlett O'hara drawl and great cooking, but we are also known for our hospitality and caring nature- especially during a time of loss. Take a few lessons on how to behave at a funeral the Southern way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Immediately take the grieving family some food. At a time of sorrow, cooking is the last thing anyone wants to do, so provide the family with some comfort food. Typical Southern 'funeral' foods include fried chicken, potato salad, buttermilk biscuits and dessert.

2. If cooking isn't your style, take over some drinks, plates, cups, napkins and trash bags. This will eliminate piles of dishes to be cleaned.

3. Enlist the help of your church. If you attend a different church than the deceased, put the family on your church's prayer list.

4. Always send flowers. This is typically done at the 'sittin up' or visitation the night before the funeral. You don't have to go big, every little gesture counts. Though Carnations, in the South, are primarily asociated with funerals; house plants are usually preferred because they can be taken back to the home or given away.

5. Southern 'sittin ups' usually end with the immediate family lining up for the guests to speak to them. Get in line and pay your respects. Don't bolt out in a hurry or your presence will seem half-hearted.

6. Dress in the appropriate black attire. Tuck in 'the girls' and avoid dangly, noisy jewelry. You're at a funeral, not singles night at the local bar.

7. One thing my Maw-Maw always told me was to never, ever talk about how someone acts at a funeral; because you never know how you would!

[jasmor81]

on 2/12/2009 great article - I really enjoyed it - i love southern women