Acting as a pallbearer is regarded as a role of privilege, honor, and respect at funerals.

You should feel honored to the carry the coffin or casket of someones loved one; it’s a duty that not many people will have in life. being selected by the funeralbearers as a pallbearer means that the family trusts you, 

How should you carry the casket in step with the other pallbearers?

The pallbearers will carry the coffin or casket to the final resting place for the deceased person, and it takes 4-6-8 people to carry a coffin. 

Pallbearers have to move coffins or casket between different places (from the funeral home to the hearse, and from the hearse to the church or crematorium). Dignity and respect are the fundamental values to have when you’re a pallbearer. Apart from etiquette, there are also useful and practical tips about carrying a coffin or casket with other pallbearers. The coffin or casket will have to be moved in the case of traditional burials, perhaps not so much in case of a cremation,

It may sound simple from a distance to carry a coffin or casket; you lift and move forward. However, you will be taking the coffin or casket with other people, so you will have to synchronize your movements, lift the weight without causing yourself and injury, and so on.

Keep reading to find out the best recommendations for carrying a coffin or casket.

1. Safety first

How is your physical health? Have you had any recent neck, shoulder, knee, or back injuries that carrying the casket may aggravate? You shouldn’t accept carrying the coffin if you're risking your health; it could lead to unpleasant accidents in the middle of the ceremony and even cause injury to the other pallbearers.

2. Lift correctly

You lift the coffin or casket together and carry it on the shoulders and lower it together with your hands under the coffin or casket. A shoulder carry looks more impressive, but it will put more strain on the shoulders and upper arms. If the ground is uneven and slippery, carrying the casket on shoulders is safer too.

3. Plan the route 

It’s also wise to plan out the lifting; see that the pathway is clear, above your head and underfoot. Avoid the slippery areas and the low-hanging doorways, uneven ground, and steps.

Pallbearers must have similar heights, too, with shorter people going at the front of the coffin or casket and taller people at the head-end of the coffin or casket.

4. Mind the weight of the coffin or casket

It’s the deceased's body that you have to lift and carry and the coffin or casket itself, and the latter can be very heavy. It can weigh 180kg, in which case six or eight people will be enough for carrying the coffin or casket.

5. Walk slowly

It would help if you always walked slowly, as it’s both respectful and practical- the coffin or casket can be heavy. If you’re taking too large steps, one of the pallbearers may not keep up with you, and it will not show nicely for the people attending the funeral either.

Foot always come first and not the head. The coffin or casket should always have the foot end towards the driver to be foot first when being driven in the car. It's a symbolic step, as it reminds us of a person walking. It’s also made for practical reasons, as it will reduce the body's risk of purging. It’s essential always to maintain the head raised so that the fluids are kept down.

6. Keep in step and level

It's difficult for people to keep in step, but it's crucial mainly for aesthetical reasons. You won’t get on someone else’s toes too. You only have to copy the pallbearer in front of you, moving as and when he’s moving. If you’re at the front of the casket, you should pay attention to the person leading the casket (the priest, for example). If there’s nobody else at the front, you should walk evenly and as slowly as you can.

While climbing up/down the stairs, you should maintain the casket level as much as you can. When you keep the casket level, you also have to assure that nothing on the top of the casket (flower arrangements) will fall. It’s another way to keep everyone safe and comfortable while carrying the casket. People at the low end will need to lift the casket as much as practical to remain level.

7. Turn clockwise

Again, the clockwise movement has a symbolic meaning, reminding the moving of life. It resembles the clock turning and time passing. Plus, if all pallbearers know that they always have to rotate clockwise, there will be no misunderstanding when having to turn.

8. Use just one hand when holding the handle

You should hold the handle with just one hand when carrying the casket; you may only use both hands when picking up/raising or putting down the casket. Not only that, it's weird, but holding the handle with both hands is uncomfortable and inefficient too.

Use the hand closest to the casket and change regularly with the pallbearer on the opposite side for comfortable carry.

9. Pay attention to instructions

Most of the time, the funeral conductor will tell you what to do. If you don’t know what to do, it’s better not to do anything. Pay attention and wait for the signal without getting nervous about it. It would help if you stayed still and only move when instructed. You don’t want to add an unpleasant moment to the funeral- it’s emotionally draining as it is.

10. Take a deep breath

Carrying the casket is a big responsibility, but you shouldn’t stress too much. You will have other people helping you, and the risk for dropping the casket is relatively low. Even if the handle comes off, the other pallbearers will be there for the rescue. Tripping or falling when carrying the casket will rarely happen.

What if the casket is wheeled?

It would help if you always wheeled the casket by the thumbscrews. If you have to wheel the casket away, you should hold the thumbscrews and not the handle. Even if keeping the thumbscrews seems weird for some, it will provide a more secure grip and control. The handles will be too low for a comfortable grip, forcing the people to bend while walking, which looks