Back then older people, including the young ones used to respect funerals. Funerals used to be respected immensely as it was a sad period for the family in question. Neighbours and close friends in the street would be considerate and avoid making noise and disturbing the family during mourning.

They had rules that everyone knew to obey, like television and radios were not allowed to be switched on… in the home and people would not just come and go as they please in the family’s yard. As soon as people heard of a loss in the family, they would avoid making a lot of noise so as to show respect to the family.

All that faded away long ago when women used to wear long dresses or skirts and covered their heads when going to funerals. Funerals are now accompanied by ‘after tears’ where those attending play music and drink alcohol after the burial. That is how people show respect the dead nowadays.

It’s a phenomenon that elderly citizens find hard to comprehend, with many saying the tradition of burying their loved ones with dignity has been lost.

The pictures in this article depicts the atmosphere at what is allegedly a funeral in Pretoria. At first glance a person would’ve thought that it was a fashion show or someone was getting married…. These pictures were taken at a funeral!

In years gone by, the whole cycle of life was played out at home. Babies were born there and families usually washed and cared for their dead at home. The whole family would file into the room to pay their respects, including children, who also attended the funeral. Nowadays people don’t show much respect to the dead like how older people used to in the olden days.

Lack of respect for the dead is the same as deliberately disrespecting the deceased person and the rights and needs of their relatives and prolonging their suffering. We should respect the dead because they are totems that remind us to renew ourselves in the time we have left to us.