Doesn't clapping at a funeral seem strange?

[yvr girl]

It does to me.

[roguevalley]

1. I've seen it before, hon. Its usually a sign of respect and love. I

know. I'm protestant so its rare I hear it but its usually a loving thing.

[yvr girl]

3. I didn't think they were trying to be disrespectful

I've just never seen it at a funeral.

[Skittles]

8. THOSE DOGS ARE KILLING ME

could they BE bigger hams?

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. Its an applause for the celebration of " life " .

Many cultures celebrate life at funerals rather than being sad . Not all cultures treat funerals as somber affairs .

[boneygrey]

4. In Italy it is

a sign of respect and a celebration of the life that has passed.

[yvr girl]

7. I'm part Italian but I just realized

that I've never been to a funeral for anyone on my Mom's side of the family. That's kind of strange.

[housewolf]

5. It seems odd to me

and totally out of keeping with the Catholic church that I grew up in, wa-a-a-ay back there in the 1950's & 60's.

[tjwmason]

10. Catholicism frequently makes a distinction between inside and outside

Back in the old-days I certainly would not imagine clapping in church; but there was much para-liturgical malarkies outside where emotions would be displayed more opennly. Remember that until recently Italy was the heartland of Catholicism, and they're hardly reticent about showing emotion there.

[Lady Freedom]

11. But keep in mine that Pop John Paul was not like the those people of the..

60's and 70's. He had a diffrent beat to party with!!!

[BikeWriter]

6. Weird to me, too.

[izzie]

9. Funerals are for the living. The man is dead.

What the living want is what counts and is fine with me.Usually the rest of the world think Am. are very odd in what they do to the dead by the way.Books have been out on it.