It's no secret that the funeral procession includes a whole arsenal of rituals and ceremonies. In many countries around the world over the course of countless centuries, the wires of man have been given great importance on the last journey - a certain sacred action has always been performed.
What does the cross symbolize
At the same time, graveyards and cemeteries were considered sacred places, and even now they have a special relation to them.
Each nation has its own traditions regarding how to carry out the burial of the deceased. In Russia, it has long been customary to establish a cross on the grave of a deceased. And this is no coincidence. By placing crosses on the grave, we thereby confirm that man was a Christian. If the deceased person was buried according to Orthodox canons, then an eight-pointed cross was erected on his grave. The burial place was equipped in the form of a mound, so as not to accidentally step on the "sacred" territory. After that they put the above creed.
It should be noted that each region has its own traditions regarding whether to erect crosses on the grave at the head of the dead or at their feet. On the day of the mourning ceremony, an ordinary cross made of wood is usually installed on the grave. Only after a certain amount of time, after the shrinkage of the earth, the relatives of the deceased put on his grave stronger and more stable.
What to remember when choosing a “creed”
Crosses on a grave are integral attributes of the burial ceremony of the deceased. And their choice should be approached with all seriousness and responsibility.
It is important to always remember that crosses to the grave must fully comply with the rules established by the Christian religion regarding the attributes of burial. Representatives of the clergy indicate that it is optimal to choose standard designs, without any accessories and decorations.
However, many people prefer to install metal crosses on the grave of deceased relatives. And in fairness, it should be recognized that the church is sympathetic to such an initiative.
One way or another, the question of what criteria to choose a cross for the tomb and whether it should be decorated, each is decided individually. What material should the cross be made of? The answer is simple: it does not matter. The main thing is that it be reliable and of high quality - it should not, for example, heel from a strong wind, and it should not be ruined by hail or rain.
The quality of the wooden cross
Let us consider in more detail, in particular, a wooden cross. When buying such a product, certain nuances must be taken into account. Typically, in their manufacture, preference is given to such species of wood as beech, pine or oak. First of all, to give strength, they are thoroughly processed with special compounds, and then varnished.
It is such products that subsequently withstand adverse weather conditions. Crosses made of wood can have a standard "strict" style, and can be decorated with original carvings. However, it must be emphasized that wooden products do not differ in durability. Another thing is forged crosses to the grave, photos of which are shown in almost every organization for the production of monuments and tombstones. They have a more pompous appearance than wooden ones, are most resistant to adverse external factors, rarely break and have durability.
In any case, the choice of the cross for the tomb must be done based on your own preferences and wishes.