I'm in the military and was a part of a funeral today. After we gave the proper respects for a fallen comrade, the family let white doves out. I asked a few people and they said it was a sign that the person's soul is being sent to heaven. But where did it all originate from? How did this tradition get started? How many doves do they release and is there a corelation with their age? I just thought it was interesting that many people know about this tradition, but no one seems to know anything about it. Can anyone help me out?
2006-11-13 16:57:21 · 11 answers · asked by Jacob M 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Part of it comes from Noah's release the dove who found the olive branch, it also is the soul flying to heaven to find everlasting peace
2006-11-13 16:59:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doves For Funerals
2016-11-09 22:42:07 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a professional "dove releaser". We breed the white homing pigeons to be released as white doves at funerals and many other events.
It's true, as everyone else answered, the dove is the symbol of peace because of Noah and the flood story.
The dove also represents the holy spirit because when Jesus was baptised the holy spirit took the form of a dove that descended on him.
Doves are the symbol of peace in all main religions.
But, non-religious people also like to have doves released at funerals because when the birds are released, it feels like a way of releasing that person. It's like the final goodbye at the end of the funeral service.
And, yes, it is only a recent tradition. It's only become popular in the past 10 years or so...
There are no "rules" about how many doves are released at funerals. Sometimes if the person was a young person, they release the same number of doves as their age.
Sometimes, it's just 3 doves released to represent the holy trinity.
Sometimes we bring the number of doves that there is family members that want to release them by hand.....
It justs depends on what the family wants and what they can afford.
2006-11-17 09:30:20 · answer #3 · answered by tam_heavenly 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to the people who let the birds go the meaning for them might be just what you wrote .
the reason the dove is special is that in the bible it refers to the spirit of the lord descending from heaven as a dove or in the form of a dove.
the dove is also a symbol or peace and is such because of the reference to it in the bible in the context it was refereed to it was a coming of the sprite of god blessing the person or persons and we know that if we really do as Christ taught there just would not be war or hatred
one more thing and this might just be me . i am not a roman catholic but when john Paul the pope was dying and he came to the window to speak to the people but was unable to do that they also let some white doves go now the news people and know one else seemed to take note of the fact that two of the doves did not want to leave him he waved them away but one still remained i thought when i saw that something is happening in that moment that is more then just seeing some birds be let out of cages .
i hope this helped you .
anyway i am sorry about your fellow solider i hope that you and most if not all of the military from USA and great Britain and the others are soon able to leave and those that stay only do so as trainers things like that .
2006-11-13 17:13:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have heard that doves symbolize peace....
However, in the Old Testament, the released dove symbolized a need to find rest when the world was filled with turmoil.....
When a dove is released at a funeral, it symbolizes the well known peace upon those who suffered much. Much different than the crow which symbolizes the carrying of the dead to the afterlife.
Your sister,
Ginger
2006-11-13 17:01:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually I think that's a relatively recent tradition, and not a neccessarily religious one. Funeral homes are doing that now as something extra they provide, for a fee of course. In Christian symbology the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and of peace. I think it is a symbol that people find meaningful. It's not so much a "sign that their soul is being sent to heaven" as symbolic of the freedom of a person's soul to "take flight."
2006-11-13 17:01:30 · answer #6 · answered by keri gee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you would have to go back to the story of Noah and the Ark. As when the second dove was released it came back with a olive branch in its beak . and has been taken as a sign of peace between God and Mankind since then.
2006-11-13 17:06:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The doves are supposed to carry the soul safetly into Heaven. Beyond that I have no clue.
2006-11-13 17:00:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought it just was an symbol of peace, the dove.
2006-11-13 17:00:18 · answer #9 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the bible the dove represents the Holy Spirit, this is the most likely answer that i can think of.
2006-11-13 16:59:20 · answer #10 · answered by spanky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋