[Carole]

I have been to a few Baptist wakes in Boston. It seems as though some Baptists place a thin cranberry-red colored netting over the open coffin. I’ve seen this done three times at black Southern Baptist services. Is this a southern thing, a Baptist thing, a Boston thing or a black thing? And what is the purpose? Is it religious, ornamental, fuctional, symbolic or all of the above?

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Name : Carole, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Biracial, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 32, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Sara28330]

I think this may be more of a black thing. It’s not a specific Baptist rite that I know of. You don’t see it so much today since most churches are air-conditioned. But years ago when churches had to open the windows in summer, the netting was to protect the body from flies and other insects.

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Name : Sara28330, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 66, City : Louisville, State : KY, Country : United States, Occupation : Retired, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Rebecca30088]

My grandfather had a red netting placed over his open casket at his Catholic funeral. My grandmother said they did it because he was so pale–the red made him look more life-like.

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Name : Rebecca30088, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 24, City : Portland, State : OR, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Amanda31503]

I have been to Southern funerals, Baptist funerals, and black funerals, and I have never seen or heard of this practice. However, when I read the question, it occured to me that if it were to ever be done, it would probably be done to keep flies out of the casket. Still, since I am from one of the most historically insect-ridden cities in the country and have never seen it, perhaps it’s just not as common as you think it is.

By the way, “Southern Baptist” is a different sect from “Baptist” and not all Baptists in the South are “Sourthern Baptists.”

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Name : Amanda31503, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 19, City : New Orleans, State : LA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Yvonne24342]

I don’t think it is particularly a black thing either. I grew up in black Baptist churches and I still attend one. I’ve never seen this.

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Name : Yvonne24342, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, City : Kansas City, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : reporter/lawyer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

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