A Taoist wake lasts between 1 to 7 days, depending on the family's preference. Some families opt for a shorter one-day ceremony, while others hold multi-day wakes to allow for more prayer sessions and visits from relatives and friends. Odd number and not even number of wake days are usually conducted for Chinese funerals. Taoist Funerals are the most traditional of all religions when it comes to conducting a funeral and hence a 7 days funeral wake is not uncommon. Some families have even requested to have funeral wakes lasting beyond 7 days and this will require the approval from the relevant authorities. Our experienced funeral directors will assist in booking of the wake venue, be it at a void deck or at a funeral parlour so as to ensure that you have the needed time and space to grief while you leave all the execution of the funeral to us.

A Taoist funeral is a traditional ceremony based on the teachings of Taoism, focusing on restoring harmony between Heaven, Earth, and the spirit world. It includes specific prayers, chanting, rituals, and offerings to guide the deceased’s soul safely into the afterlife. At Harmony Funeral Care, we ensure every detail is aligned with the deceased's dialect group’s customs — whether Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, or Hainanese.

Common rituals include (1) Chanting and prayers led by Taoist priests to guide the soul in the afterlife, (2) Burning of joss paper and offerings to provide for the deceased in the afterlife and (3) Ritual cleansing and dressing of the deceased.

We’ll walk you through each step of the ritual so you understand its purpose and significance.

Each dialect group in Singapore observes unique Taoist funeral customs.

For example, Hokkien funerals often feature loud gongs, traditional paper effigies, and elaborate send-offs to honour the deceased. Teochew traditions emphasise prayers led by senior family members, reflecting deep filial piety and respect. Cantonese ceremonies may include the symbolic “crossing the bridge” ritual, representing the soul’s peaceful journey into the afterlife. Meanwhile, Hainanese and Hakka funerals are typically simpler and more solemn, focusing on sincerity and purity of intent.

Our funeral directors are well-versed in all dialect-specific rites, ensuring that every ceremony is conducted with authenticity, respect, and adherence to each family’s cultural traditions.

Guests should dress modestly and respectfully. White, beige, or somber colours (like grey or light blue) are appropriate. Avoid bright colours like red, and avoid flashy jewellery. Lower attire should also be of a length that surpass the knee.

Traditionally, these elements are part of a Taoist Funeral in Singapore but this practice has changed over the years and it is much less common these days. Note that they come at a fee as well.

Many Taoist families observe post-funeral rites such as the 7th day memorial, 49th day prayers, and 100th day ceremonies. These rituals help the deceased’s soul transition peacefully.

Some families even do grand rituals like gong de or 脚裤 rituals after 1 year or 3 years of death. These ceremonies are usually more grand and require elaborate planning in advance. Do let us handle this for you and contact us to find out more.

Our team of dedicated funeral directors will send you reminders on these special memorial dates so as to ensure that these are not forgotten. We will also have a guidebook as to what to expect and what to do on these occasions.

You may have noticed that funeral service prices in Singapore can vary significantly — even when the services offered appear to be largely the same. At Harmony Funeral Care, we believe in being transparent about why our pricing structure offers true value for money without compromising on quality.

Here’s why:

Unlike many providers, we do not act as a middleman. We don’t outsource or subcontract essential services such as embalming, body care, or setup logistics. Everything is managed in-house — from the moment your loved one comes into our care, until the final farewell.

We are proud to operate our own fully equipped embalming care centre, staffed by both trained male and female embalmers. This allows us to maintain the highest standards of dignity, respect, and professionalism, while keeping costs under control.

By keeping operations internal and direct, we eliminate unnecessary third-party markups. This enables us to pass the savings on to you — the families we serve — without compromising the care and respect your loved one deserves.

That said, we are also not the cheapest provider, and for good reason. We refuse to cut corners or lower our service standards just to offer rock-bottom prices. Our focus is on providing exceptional value, with a balance of affordability and uncompromised quality.

With us, what you see is what you get — transparent pricing, professional care, and heartfelt service.

While both share some similar elements, a Taoist funeral focuses on deities, celestial guardians, and cosmic balance, whereas Buddhist funerals centre on reincarnation and merit dedication through sutra chanting. The rituals, priests, and altar setup also differ according to faith.

Offerings typically include fruits, joss sticks, candles, paper effigies, and symbolic items such as houses or clothing for the deceased. Meat food offerings are also common during chanting sessions