Coffin - Feet First

[ruthandsam]

Hi,

Does the coffin always get carried into Church feet first and if so why?

Just wondering that's all.

[frugalfred]

I believe it has to do with facing the altar.

[excelsior-1]

In the Catholic Church the coffin is carried in feet first, symbolic of the fact that in life, the deceased faced the altar. The coffin is turned around at the end of Mass symbolizing the deceased leaving the church.

[DJHawkes]

so that the dead face the altar, hence God, on entrance to the church.

[DJHawkes]

bearing in mind that centuries ago, the dead never left the church,they were buried as near to the altar as their status allowed.

[ruthandsam]

Thank you for your answers.

I've also just discovered that if you were a Priest, you enter the Church head first so that you will be facing the congregation, as they did when alive.

[puzzled54]

A rule in my mothers house was that beds could not be placed with feet heading towards the door, as thats the way the dead are carried out.

[Hopkirk]

It's all a load of tosh, isn't it?