Funerals and Dove Release Memorials
If you’re funeral planning for a loved one and want to incorporate a touching memorial, a dove release ceremony might be the perfect choice. Dove release ceremonies are common in both funerals and weddings, with a similar role in each one. For funerals, the dove’s ascension represents the final journey of the soul into Heaven; for weddings, it is a message of hope for the future. The final outcome in both cases is that family members are comforted and able to look past the present emotions to a happy lifetime ahead of them.
What Types of Doves are Released at Funerals?
The doves released at a funeral are usually a breed of homing pigeon designed with ceremonial release in mind.
Ringneck doves, which can typically be purchased at a pet store for just a few dollars, are often used for ceremonies, but this practice isn’t encouraged. Ringneck doves are not equipped to survive the wild or return to their handlers, which means they rarely live for long on their own. Homing pigeons, however, which are bred and trained by animal experts, are able to return to their home site after release. This allows them to not only return safely, but to be used again for other ceremonies.
The trained homing pigeons are also better equipped for a better release ceremony. Many of these doves are trained to circle several times before taking off into the sky, and they can be hired from several hundred miles away and still return safely home.
What Does a Funeral Dove Release Symbolize?
The reality is that a dove release at a funeral can mean anything you want it to. The ceremony can have deep meaning for animal lovers, for the deeply spiritual, or for those who had an affinity for nature.
There are more formal meanings to the ceremony, as well, if you’re looking for more structure:
• A single dove being released signifies The Spirit
• Four doves being released represents The Trinity and The Spirit
• A twelve dove release is actually the release of thirteen total doves
In the twelve dove release, one dove is released separately from the others as a way to represent the soul of your loved one. This bird can either be released before the rest of the flock or after it, signifying the soul’s reunion with its spiritual predecessors.
Who Provides Funeral Dove Releases?
There are many different companies offering funeral dove ceremonies. Be sure and select an organization that operates humanely and with homing pigeons. The best companies will put the safety of their birds before anything else, and impose restrictions for releasing birds indoors, at night, or in bad weather. You will also most likely have a ceremonial handler on site to ensure the safety of the animals.
If you’re interested in having a dove release ceremony, talk with your funeral director or search for provider listings in your area. Both funeral planning organizations and wedding planning organizations might have more information on dove release ceremonies appropriate for your needs.
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