Funeral ceremony or northern people called "Hean-yen", when someone gets sick friend and relative will visit and look after that person. If that person can not be cure they will invite Buddhist monk to giving a sermon called "Karma of suffering" this is to remind the sick person about Buddha Teaching, until his or her last breath.

    Corpse in northern language called "Kab-nuo" give bath to the corpse is one of their strong believe but it just for each family involvement. They usually bath the corpse with warm water and dress it up with the best dress. The corpse will be lay down on the prepared floor where both hand put together with insane and flowers. Then 3-bamboo timber is used to carry the corpse called "Hanfloy" to the coffin. The master of the ceremony will have to prepare the fee or access such as 1 bottle of alcohol with 3-6 Bath. If the person who has passed away on the night time, there will be a candles that light on the top of his head with one person who will have to accompany the corpse. Until in the morning time the corpse will be put into the coffin. Also relative will have to prepare such as meal and other necessary for him to eat on the way to heaven.

   During the coffin still at home relative will make a merit everyday, in the night time will invite Buddhist monk come for sermon. Most of youth will help with others work such as prepare food for guest. Also there will be some entertainment such as playing game. The period of keeping the coffin depending on the master of ceremony. Northern people do not cremated on Buddha day because they scare of sin so they have built the area as graveyard called Pa-heav or Pa-cha

   They will have chosen the right day for burning, it usually not preferred on the 9th of waning moon. In the morning as Buddhism precept is to offering food to monk if there is a joining monk hood usually carry on the morning just only for a few day. Before the coffin removes from the house they will need to ask for forgiving from him. In the parade ceremony leaded by person who carries special flag called "Samchay", following by Buddha monk, corpse will carry by deliveryman. When they get to graveyard the corpse will bring out and clean his or her face with coconut juice. The coffin will be carry around the pyre for 3 rounds then it can start to burn by Buddhist monk following by all relatives.
    After the corpse has been delivery and burn they must not turn they back to watch it again. When they have back home the master of this ceremony will use the juice of turmeric to spread to they face as for good luck. After three day the master of this ceremony will collect the bone of the death body with "Song-kal-ha" sermon. This arrangement will help to clean the house from unlucky matter. Some people favored to store the bone in pagoda called "ku". The more important person such as Buddhist monk they carry out sand pagoda in the middle of the river. The water will take the bone as it own destiny and they believe that all relative of that person will be live with happiness. Some of them used to grind and burn it in the air, as they believe that death person will no longer attach to any merit.

Background: Northern custom, Sangoun Sotisukrat