A good going: The importance of the funeral meal at traditional western Christian funerals in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Abstract It is a paradox that funerals are one of the most significant end-of-life events, and yet they are rarely discussed in hospitality research. This article explores one aspect of the funeral ‐ namely the importance of food at traditional western Christian funerals ‐ through interviews with five UK-based funeral directors and five funeral catering providers. Exploring both the historic significance and the current importance of the funeral meal, five specific issues were examined: funeral poverty, family interactions, power relationships, financial control/power and socialization. The study not only highlights the continuing social significance of the funeral meal in Christian western society but also the unequal power relationships between the mourners and the funeral director. However, funeral directors and their catering providers are still mindful of the costs and driven by a growing concern over funeral poverty; there is an increasing awareness for both the funeral and the funeral meal to match the mourner's ability to pay. The study concludes that the format of the funeral meal needs to change to better reflect people's changing lifestyles, and outlines areas where further research is required to better understand the significance of the funeral meal.