Dragon Funerals

Dragons take their funerals very seriously, but the ceremonies are not devoid of hope. Usually, there is a speech given by relatives and friends of the deceased, and the burial comes after. Spirit Gems (if available) are used by the mourners, for varying purposes. Dragon funerals end with a thanksgiving meal and prayer.

Time of Service

Funeral services are traditionally held at different times, depending on the element of the deceased:

The service of a Fire Dragon will typically be held at midday or afternoon (the hottest part of the day).
The service of an Electric Dragon will typically be held at sunrise or in the morning (the brightest part of the day).
The service of an Alchemy Dragon will typically be held at morning or evening, depending on the season.
The service of an Earth Dragon will typically be held before noon, though times vary.
The service of a Wind Dragon will typically be held during noon or noonnight, depending on the season.
The service of a Water Dragon will typically be held during the day, but sometimes are held at night.
The service of an Ice Dragon will typically be held at night, or even past midnight (the coldest part of the day).
The service of a Shadow Dragon will typically be held at sunset or at night (the darkest part of the day).
The service of a Æther Dragon will typically be held in the afternoon, or past midnight, though times vary.
The service of a Fear Dragon will typically be held in the afternoon, though times vary.

Dragon funerals can last from a few hours to half a day or night.

Burials

Traditionally, the bodies of Dragons of different Elements are given different treatments:

The bodies of Fire Dragons will typically be cremated and then the ashes buried; the headstone has a torch built-in.
The bodies of Electric Dragons will typically be singed with lightning and then the remains buried; the headstone has an electric device built-in.
The bodies of Alchemy Dragons will typically be lightly embalmed and then buried; chemical reactions may be involved with the production and maintenance of the headstone.
The bodies of Earth Dragons will typically be buried near a tree (without embalming); rocks are always placed upon the headstone.
The bodies of Wind Dragons will typically be cremated and then the ashes spread into the Wind; the cenotaph has a wind-based device built in.
The bodies of Water Dragons will typically be sent out to sea; the cenotaph has a fountain built-in.
The bodies of Ice Dragons will typically be frozen and then sent out to sea; the cenotaph is routinely frozen-over.
The bodies of Shadow Dragons will typically be either cremated, singed, or embalmed (sometimes even frozen), and then the remains buried in a shady location.
The bodies of Æther Dragons will typically be buried, though treatments vary.
The bodies of Fear Dragons will typically be embalmed and then set in a tomb.

The bodies of Dragon Soldiers, however, are sometimes given communal cremations and burials, especially if there are many casualties from a war, or if the remains of the soldiers are unrecognizable.

If there is no recoverable body, however, there is still a funeral, but a cenotaph or an empty tomb is used, rather than a grave.

Posthumous Memorial Traditions

Rocks are almost always placed upon headstones. Flowers are also common; specific flowers used depends on the personal flowers symbols and element of the deceased. If there is an elemental device built-in to the headstone or tomb, then that will be activated, accordingly (when possible):

The headstone of a Fire Dragon has a torch built-in, lit by visitors.
The headstone of an Electric Dragon has an electric device built-in, shocked by visitors.
Chemical reactions may be involved with the production and maintenance of the headstone of an Alchemy Dragon.
Rocks are always placed upon the headstone of an Earth Dragon, and any nearby tree will be cared for.
The cenotaph of a Wind Dragon has a wind-based device built-in, moved by visitors, and by the wind, itself.
The cenotaph of a Water Dragon has a fountain built-in, attended to by visitors.
The cenotaph of an Ice Dragon is routinely frozen-over by visitors.
Visitors give shade to the headstone of a Shadow Dragon.
The memory given to an Æther Dragon varies considerably; rocks and flowers set upon the headstone are the most common.
Flowers are always placed in the tomb of a Fear Dragon.