Funeral white rolls Royces

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

Just on bus going past a huge funeral with what looks like 10 rolls Royces in attendance plus a white horse drawn carriage. Must be a big one eh?

Haven't you ever seen on the news the funeral of a child murder victim and noticed its white?
Although more recently sometimes pink or pale blue. With matching plumes on the horses.

Late 50s and I would always assume white is for a child (although nothing stopping the family choosing white for an adult of course )

I recall seeing pink aswell and
A fairy tale pumpkin carrying a coffin in a funeral cortège

If you don’t specify you tend to get black in my experience

I did not assume it was a celebrity funeral but only that it must be a big funeral as it looked big.

Every day is a school day. I didn't know that white signified a child, and I'm sure that a lot of people don't.

And no, it isn't common knowledge @alexdgr8
having never been to a child's funeral and hoping I never will, and I am old.

Sad that it was a child.

I wonder it it's a class (or regional?) thing? It's odd that so many are absolutely convinced it's common knowledge, while a similar number had no idea.

Like I said, I was in a bus going past the church, at first all I could see were white Rolls Royces and people dressed up albeit in black. Until I saw the hearse and a very sad electronic photo montage of the child (both of which were further up the road and I couldn’t see them) I actually thought it was more likely to be a wedding. I do know white coffins are for children.

Every funeral is sad but if it’s a child’s or baby’s funeral then of course that is even sadder.

All I can say is that this thread deepens my sense that mainstream UK culture is incredibly avoidant about death.

You’re probably right. We do tend to avoid death in the UK. It’s probably cultural.

You're just a culture that is unusually avoidant about death. I'm always gobsmacked at the basic questions about funerals on here. You'd think that dying was something that only happened to tiny numbers of particularly unfortunate people, so no one acquired any knowledge of anything funeral-related for fear of tempting fate.

I'm curious to know what your culture is @LowPowerModes

I'm not sure how not knowing about the significance of different coloured funeral cars makes you avoidant of death?

OK, so I've done some research and it is a Catholic thing historically, but has become common practice in the UK in areas with strong (Irish?) Catholic roots.

It's not done much, outside of Catholic communities, in SE, which will explain why some of us didn't know.

I've looked up three FD locally and none of them can supply a white hearse.

I had no idea, and I disagree that most British people would know that.

Nope. I had no idea. And I have been to a child’s funeral unfortunately. The cars were not white.

White funeral cars aren’t just used for children here (very north England). One funeral director that specialises in traveller funerals uses them a lot.

White coffin is traditionally a sign of a child, but not the cars.

As Irish we have a culture of attending many funerals

They are set up to make sure as many people can pay their respects as possible

The night before people queue to view the open coffin
Then removal to the church
On the day there’s the church service then prayers at the grave
Then a meet up after to remember the deceased
Many churches live feed the funerals now aswel so that anyone that can’t make it can still attend virtually
Many people turn up to the graveside for the burial if they can’t make the service or maybe just to the viewing

In my experience funerals are packed with hundreds of people
My Catholic parents funerals were in England in their large Catholic Church seating 500 and the streets were packed with people standing outside because they couldn’t all squeeze in.

My dhs parents funerals and others I’ve attended in England meanwhile were in stark contrast. Very small. Not Irish or Catholic. Many close friends and relatives didnt turn up. I was surprised.
I have no idea if that’s the norm of course. Just my experience

Actually it wouldn’t have occurred to lots of people

What is your culture? And what makes you think that everyone is the same? There are all kinds of cultures and nationalities on here.

Please tell us what culture you are from so we can judge it.

Why did you immediately assume the OP was being snarky about the car?

I've buried a child. We had white coffin (they only had white ones in baby sizes) but I have never heard of a white car for a child. We drove him to the cemetery ourselves (we brough him home the night before) and then I carried his coffin from the gate while the (black) funeral car drove behind us.

I've never heard this

No, I wasn’t aware that white coffins or funeral cars signify a child.

i’m late 60s and I’ve been around the block a few times.

so @alexdgr8I think this thread shows that you are wrong in your statement that this is common knowledge. you shouldn’t have implied that OP was strange in not automatically coming to that conclusion.

I also take offence at the poster who said that ‘your culture’ react oddly to death. Don’t judge me and my culture and I won’t judge you and yours.

Travellers. It’s either something like that , or horses.

Yrs, my little granddaughter died, and it was a white coffin.

Sorry to those who’ve buried children, I can only imagine the level of grief. 😢