SHROUDS

Traditionally a shroud is a long piece of cloth, usually cotton or linen that is wrapped around a body after it has been ceremonially washed.  Shrouds can be used for burial, either with or without a casket according to cemetery requirements. They can also be used for Clean Cremation again either with or without a cremation casket or container according to crematory requirements.

Pray Funeral Home is central Michigans' exclusive provider of Kinkaraco burial shrouds for traditional burial, green burial and clean cremation.  These are available  in a variety of natural materials.  Many of them may be lined with aromatic blossoms and herbs. 

HISTORY OF THE SHROUD

  Shrouds have been prevalent in funeral rituals across the ages and religous beliefs.  the following is a synopsis of the role of the shroud throughout the ages.  The full text can be found on the website of our shroud manufacturer Kinkaraco.

CHRISTIAN

Jesus Christ was buried in a shroud. "It was Preparation Day ... So as evening approached,Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body ... He was accompanied by Nicodemus... Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. (Matthew 27:59,60; John 19:38-42.)

JEWISH

Jewish Shrouds are white and entirely hand-stitched. They are made without buttons, zippers, or fasteners. Tahrihim (the Hebrew term for Shrouds) come in muslin or linen, fabrics that recall the garments of the ancient Hebrew priesthood.

MUSLIM

This religion has a very clear set of protocols for dealing with the deceased. The body must be placed on its sides and washed with warm water and soap, generally by a member of the same sex, with the final washing having scented water.

Then the body is dried, perfumed, and wrapped in white cloth or SHROUD.

HINDU

Preparation of the body usually entails bathing, anointing with a mixture of water and sandalwood and daubing with turmeric powder and water. The body must be garbed with a new cloth or SHROUD. Flowers, incense and rose water enhance the bier.

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS

The bodies were treated with spices, herbs and chemicals so that they became mummies rather than decomposing. The corpses were then placed in cotton cloth wrappings and put inside of a wooden case that was put inside of another case that was decorated with details of their life and a mask of their face. This was then placed in a coffin that was put in a sarcophagus. The largest and oldest monuments are the pyramids that served as tombs for their kings.

NATIVE AMERICAN burial shrouds

The Mysterious ANASAZI

The high desert of the Colorado Plateau, a region characterized by high mesas and deep canyons with springs & streams (that are often dry except for spring runoff and storms), has been home to native Americans for thousands of years.  The Anasazi people did not use or make pottery but relied on an extensive inventory of baskets they are often referred to as the "Basket Maker."

A.D. 1 to 500 has much more elaborate basketry techniques & forms beautiful flexible bags woven of vegetable fibers - used for a multitude of purposes including Burial Shrouds.