I - BE PROUD TO SHROUD™
I suppose the obvious question is why? Why would you choose to wrap the body of a deceased loved one in a shroud?
Let’s be honest - this is not a new idea - I didn’t wake up one morning with a eureka moment! Shrouding stretches back 1000s of years - think Ancient Egyptians, Greek civilisations, even in Biblical times cloth was wrapped around the body. In Judaism, the tradition of using simple white shrouds called tachrichim is well documented and traced back to the second century CE.
Closer to home, in England there was a period in the 1600s when it was compulsory to bury a body wrapped in wool. An Act of Parliament in 1679 ordered that all bodies should be buried in a shroud of woollen cloth. The Burying in Woollen Acts of 1666-1680 stated-
"No corpse of any person (except those who shall die of the plague) shall be buried in ....any stuff or thing other than what is made of sheeps-wooll only"
So although I am using this as an example of archival behaviour, it has to be considered that the intention here was to increase the use of English wool and in doing so, reduce purchases of Linen from overseas - a bit like one of Trump’s tariffs - only 400 years ago!
Fast forward to current times. Most of us have witnessed a parent wrapping a newborn infant in a shawl. If you are lucky enough to have a talented friend or relative, this could be one as fine as a Shetland Lace treasure crafted from wispy Shetland wool but as long as it is soft, gentle and holds the infant securely it can be made of whatever you like.
Now to our own personal fast forward button and we arrive at the closure of the Circle of Life with preparations for a final farewell.
A woollen shroud is one way of creating a statement of love especially during the meaningful and intimate farewells of a family led funeral. It is also recognition of the desire to choose more sustainable funeral products. Wool, soft and gentle with its eco-friendly properties, does not leach damaging elements into the soil or into the atmosphere. Sustainable and biodegradable with no buttons, zips or other unwelcome elements it could be seen as just like with the newborn, wrapping the deceased’s body softly, reverently, securely and with love in a woollen shroud and in doing so, helping make their final footprint the lightest.