State funeral

File:JCurtin lay in state.jpg

The coffin of John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia from 1941 to 1945, lying in state inside King's Hall, Old Parliament House, Canberra, on July 6, 1945

A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition. Generally, state funerals are held in order to involve the general public in a national day of mourning after the family of the deceased gives consent. A state funeral will often generate mass publicity from both national and global media outlets.

History

State funerals already existed in antiquity. In ancient Athens, for example, fallen soldiers were regularly buried in a public ceremony.<ref>Wienand, Johannes (2023). Der politische Tod. Gefallenenbestattung und "Epitaphios Logos" im demokratischen Athen [The political death. The burial of the fallen and the ‘Epitaphios Logos’ in democratic Athens]. Historia Einzelschriften, vol. 272. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, Template:ISBN, Template:Doi.</ref> In the Roman Empire, a state funeral (funera publica) could be instructed by the senate for the city of Rome, whereas city councils could instruct a communal state funeral.<ref>Wesch-Klein, Gabriele (1993). Funus publicum. Eine Studie zur öffentlichen Beisetzung und Gewährung von Ehrengräbern in Rom und den Westprovinzen [Funus publicum. A study on public burial and the granting of graves of honour in Rome and the western provinces]. Heidelberger Althistorische Beiträge und Epigraphische Studien, vol. 14. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, Template:ISBN.</ref>

By country

Finland

File:Presidentti Ahtisaaren valtiolliset hautajaiset 10.11.2023 (53322424121).jpg

A state funeral of President Martti Ahtisaari on 10 November 2023

In Finland, state funerals continue only for Finnish presidents. In exceptional cases, the Finnish Government may grant or finance a funeral for a very long-serving prime minister, speaker of the parliament, and persons of special national importance. This practice has been in force in Finland since 1989.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

India

On 17 November 2012, Bal Thackeray was accorded a state funeral in the city of Mumbai. On 10 October 2024, businessman Ratan Tata was given a state funeral in Mumbai.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was given a State funeral on 28 December 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Italy

Template:Multiple issues In Italy state funerals are granted<ref name="ItaSF">Template:Cite web</ref> by law to the Presidents of the constitutional entities, such as the Presidency, the Parliament, the Government and the Constitutional Court, even after their terms have expired, and to Ministers who died during their term in office. State Funerals can also be granted, by decree of the Council of Ministers, to people who gave particular services to the country; to citizens that brought honor to the nation; or to citizens who died in the line of duty, or were victims of either terrorism, or organized crime.

The official protocol provides for<ref name="ItaSF" />

• the coffin surrounded by six members in high uniform of either the Carabinieri or the same Armed Forces the departed belonged to;
• an honor guard to the coffin at the entrance and the exit of the place in which the ceremony is held;
• the presence of one representative of the Government;
• an official commemorative oration;
• other honors that can be arranged by the Prime Minister.

Public mourning, either national or local, is declared following the dispositions of the Prime Minister's decrees. The flags are flown at half-mast outside of public buildings, while inside they display two black ribbons, with the exceptions provided for military flags, when required by military protocol.<ref name="ItaSF" />

If the departed held a public office, the body can lie in state in the building of the office's institution. In other cases it is followed the will of the family, the traditions of the office or the local customs.<ref name="ItaSF" />

Outside of the cases provided for by the protocol, for example during natural events that deeply impact the community, solemn funerals can be arranged and the six people who carry the coffins are members of the Civil Protection.<ref name="ItaSF" />

See also

• List of people who have received a state funeral
• Funeral train
• Limbers and caissons
• Lincoln Catafalque
• Lying in repose
• Lying in state
• Military funeral
• Missing man formation
• Riderless horse
• State funerals in Canada
• State funerals in the United States
• Vigil of the Princes
• State Funeral (2019 film)

Further reading

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

• The traditions of a British state funeral
• Memorializing U.S. Presidents
• Funeral Section of the RCMP Ceremonial and Protocol Guide Template:Webarchive
• "STATE, OFFICIAL, AND SPECIAL MILITARY FUNERALS" by the U.S. Army
• The Last Salute Template:Webarchive (CMH Pub 90–1) published by the United States Army Center of Military History
• NSW Policy on State Funerals Template:Webarchive
• Commentary on state funeral offer for Australian Kerry Packer
• Royal Funeral of King Tafa'ahau Tupou IV - Royal Palace Office