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Shroud usually refers to an item, such as a cloth, that covers or protects some other object. The term is most often used in reference toburial sheets,mound shroud,grave clothes,winding-cloths orwinding-sheets, such as theJewishtachrichim orMuslimkaffan, that the body is wrapped in for burial. A famous example of this is theShroud of Turin.
A traditional Jewish shroud consists of a tunic; a hood; pants that are extra-long and sewn shut at the bottom, so that separate foot coverings are not required; and a belt, which is tied in a knot shaped like the Hebrew lettershin, mnemonic of one of God's names, Shaddai. Traditionally, mound shrouds are made of whitecotton,wool orlinen, though any material can be used so long as it is made ofnatural fibre. Intermixture of two or more such fibres is forbidden,[1] due to the prohibition ofShaatnez. A pious Jewish man may next be enwrapped in either hiskittel or histallit, one tassel of which is defaced to render the garment ritually unfit, symbolizing the fact that the decedent is free from the stringent requirements of the 613mitzvot (commandments). The shrouded body is wrapped in a winding sheet, termed asovev in Hebrew (a cognate ofsvivon, the spinningHanukkah toy that is familiar under its Yiddish name,dreidel), before being placed directly in the earth (or in a plain coffin of soft wood where it is required by governing health codes).
TheEarly Christian Church also strongly encouraged the use of winding-sheets, except for monarchs and bishops. The rich were wrapped in cerecloths, which are fine fabrics soaked or painted in wax to hold the fabric close to the flesh. Early Christian shrouds incorporated a cloth, thesudarium, that covered the face, as depicted in traditional artistic representations of the entombed Jesus or his friend, Lazarus (John 11,q.v.). An account of the opening of the coffin ofEdward I says that the "innermost covering seems to have been a very fine linen cerecloth, dressed close to every part of the body". The use of burial shrouds was general until at least the Renaissance – for much of history, a new set of clothing was an expensive purchase, so preparing the deceased in this manner ensured that a good set of clothes could be retained for further use by the family.In Europe in the Middle Ages, coarse linen shrouds were used to bury most poor without a coffin. In poetry shrouds have been described as of sable, and they were later embroidered in black, becoming more elaborate and cut like shirts or shifts.[2][3]
Orthodox Christians still use a burial shroud, usually decorated with a cross and theTrisagion. The special shroud that is used during the OrthodoxHoly Week services is called anEpitaphios. Some Christians also use the burial shroud, particularly the Catholics (Roman/Eastern), among others.
Muslims as well use burial shrouds that are made of white cotton or linen. TheBurying in Woollen Acts 1666–80 in England were meant to support the production of woollen cloth.
Shrouds can also be used forcremation ceremonies in either afuneral home orcrematorium.[4]
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