09/27/2026
Why do we call them "pallbearers"?
The word comes from the "pall," a large cloth draped over the casket. In medieval Europe, the pall was often a rich, black velvet covering, and the honored men who held its corners during the procession were literally "bearing the pall."
Today, the cloth is less common, but the name and the honor remain. Pallbearers are traditionally close family or dear friends chosen by the family.
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