This afternoon I went to a memorial service and funeral for Margaret Harris. She was a lady that I did not, unfortunately, know. She and her husband, Jake, had attended my church while I was not home and have since been going through various physical ailments. The reason I chose this picture for today was a ritual I had never heard of before. The pallbearers ripped their ties and lay the torn off piece on the casket. The picture below is of a pallbearer laying his tie and the man behind is a nephew, with his tie already torn.

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It was overheard that this fetched back to Bible times in which they would tear their clothes. I tried to find more information on the internet, but came up with nothing but the Jewish tradition keriah. It is similar but does not mention any type of actual tearing a piece off and burying it with the deceased. If anyone has more information, please let me know. It is an intriguing tradition.