holding the wake at a funeral home rather than the home, the custom of providing refreshment to the mourners is often held immediately after the funeral at the house or another convenient location. In parts of Britain and some other parts of the Commonwealth, where it is not customary to have a public viewing ceremony before the funeral, the term has recently come to mean a gathering held after the funeral. See also Shemira, the custom of "guarding" the body of the deceased in Judaism Nine nights Month's Mind Lying in state Memorial service (Orthodox) Viewing (funeral) References External links Death customs Christian worship and liturgy Prayer Funeral-related industry Irish culture