Spiritist Funeral Customs and Traditions

Spiritism was codified by Allan Kardec (the pen name of the French educator Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail) in 19th-century France and is now most widely practised in Brazil, where it has shaped a vast community of Centros Espíritas. It teaches that the espírito (spirit) continues its existence in the spiritual plane after death (often referred to as nosso lar, "our home"), where it learns, loves, and progresses through successive lives by way of reincarnation.

A Spiritist funeral is usually a quiet, prayerful service held at a Centro Espírita (Spiritist Centre), at the funeral home, or at the graveside. The atmosphere is simple and contemplative. Spiritism does not have elaborate liturgical rites, ordained priests, or sacraments: its ceremonies are built around prayer, meditation, and the reading of foundational texts: The Spirits' Book and The Gospel According to Spiritism are central. A medium may sometimes offer words of comfort or a message understood to come from the spirit world, though this varies between centres.

Both cremation and burial are accepted; the choice is left to the family. The service is generally brief (often thirty minutes to an hour) and notably less ceremonious than the Catholic funerals familiar to many Brazilian families. Many Spiritist communities also hold further prayer meetings at the Centro on the seventh day, thirtieth day, and anniversary of the death, sending continued love and strength to the spirit as it adjusts to its new condition.

For guests, condolences that acknowledge the spirit's continued existence (its progress, its growth, its enduring closeness) tend to bring particular comfort. Acts of caridade (charity) given in the deceased's name are deeply meaningful, as are quiet visits and offers of practical help. The four guides below cover what to say, what to expect, what to wear, and how to choose a gift that honours the family's faith.