Doves released at funeral. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Why release doves at a funeral? Why not? Any precautions you should take?
I went to a funeral where doves were released and it was wonderful. If you had asked me a week earlier about releasing lanterns with candles inside, which has been banned in some places as a fire risk, and creating litters. What about kites? If you let them fly off, again it can create litter, or tangled wires, or upset aircraft, or just have unforeseen consequences.
If you had asked me about doves being released I would have frowned. Surely it is cruel to capture wild birds? And if you release tame ones, won't they be disorientated and a prey to larger birds of prey?
I found out the happy answers at a funeral. Half a dozen doves were brought along in what looked like a large woven basket by the handler. Each mourner, the widow, her daughters and the grand-daughters, was, in turn, handed one of the doves.
The doves were white. Pure white. Pristine white. Like brand new white teddy bears or soft toys.
I was amazed. My garden wood pigeons are murky grey and white.
The ladies and children were all given instructions on how to hold the birds. You had to cup your hand around the bird's tummy.
After everybody had received a bird, another handler called one, two, three, go! The birds were released.
They flew upwards. High above, they formed an aeroplane shape with one bird in the lead and the others in the slipstream. I had read about this previously.
We were surprised that the group did not fly straight off. They flew over the rooftops to the right, then back to the left, off to the right again, back to the left, off to the right again. Finally, another big loop - then they were gone.
Afterwards, I asked the handler where he was from and whether the birds would go back there. Yes. He was from some way away. I supposed the birds are what we would know as homing pigeons.
The event, a novelty, had been suggested and organized by the funeral director. Was it a good idea?
Yes. A resounding yes. Quite apart from the fact that some susceptible people might see it as symbolic. Symbolic of what? Releasing you sorrow. Letting the deceased person go. Seeing their soul rise to heaven.
Several advantages come to mind.
1 It was different. It was special, as if the family had made a special effort for their deceased to have a good send-off.
2 It made the event personal. (The deceased loved animals and birds.)
3 After the sombre mood of the exit from the service, it was a distraction. A novelty. The participants, the family, had something different to think about. How to hold the bird. The bird. Watching it fly.
4 The onlookers also had a novel funeral, a memorable funeral, something interesting to talk about instead of sadness.
Anything to beware of? Yes. The widow's hand was scratched by the claw of the bird and bled. Her neighbour said, 'You need to get antiseptic on that!'
What should you do to avoid being scratched? Wear thick gloves, gardening gloves? Carry a tube of antiseptic and a plaster? Ask the organizer of the birds how to avoid being scratched?
To sum up, the doves were so soothing. Highly recommended. You end on a high note, literally high, with your eyes on the sky.
You can also release a pair of doves at a wedding.
What else could go wrong? Of course, anything which could go wrong, will do so, to somebody some time. Apparently untoward events have occurred at the Vatican (attack by a seagull and a crow) and the Olympics (with the Olympic flame).
Warning - The Vatican banned a repeat.
If you release the birds indoors, they might refuse to fly out of the open window. They could be attacked by other birds such as seagulls, which is distressing, and some onlookers might think, ominous, as well as unfair to the birds.
I am not sure that I would want to risk the unpredictability of birds at a wedding, if it is an indoor wedding.
However, at a funeral, after you have walked outdoors to admire the flowers, for an outdoor funeral, it worked perfectly.
TIPS
1 Wear protective gloves.
2 Make sure to capture the best moments on video.
Useful Websites
UK
https://www.thewhitefeatherco.co.uk/pricing/
https://woodstock.wbu.com/mourningdoves
USA
UK, USA and Canada
https://dove-release.net/
What could go wrong?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Release_dove
About the Author
Angela Lansbury was born and bred in Britain, and has lived in the USA and Singapore. Her family have worked in or lived in Spain and Switzerland. She is a member of Toastmasters Clubs meeting on Zoom with visitors from the UK and USA, India, Sri Lanka, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Through the Toastmasters mentoring program Angela has connected with individuals in Vietnam and Romania, a different connection each month. Please come to the next BHA Toastmasters meeting on the 3rd Saturday afternoon every month.
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