Is it a Fable, Myth or just something I saw in a movie? I remember hearing something about?

Question

I remember hearing something about when someone dies you should place your hand over their eyes and close their eyes. Was this something I saw in a movie or is this a myth or what? Thanks for reading

Answer 1

Closing the eyes of someone who dies is traditonal behavior. It doesn't always work so well, like in the movies, though. I was an emt for years, and often the eyes of a corpse will not close completely, if at all, and most Medical personnel can relate stories of the eyes of a dead person springing open and scaring the crap out of someone watching. It's a natural muscle reaction in a certain time frame after death.
When you view a person in a casket at a funeral, the eyelids are affixed, with adhesive , or in some countries, by stitching them closed. Another practice at different times and places was to place coins over the eyes and bind them in place with a strip of cloth.
Today, in most cases, the face of the dead is usually just draped with a cloth or covering, out of respect for them, and to ease the discomfort of others while awaiting disposition of the body, as to a morgue or funeral home.

Answer 2

I am sure that you have seen this many times in movies and on tv. When someone dies, they close the eyes out of respect for the dead.

Answer 3

it's not a myth it is something you do if for no other reason except they should be allowed to close their eyes so as to rest.

Answer 4

Well normally at wakes, what are the eyes doing? They're closed; obviosly someone closed them.

Answer 5

its a common practice. In movies, it's used to show that character is dead. In real life, i dunno, but it just seems closing the eyes makes it less creepy than leaving them open.