Historically, a “wake,” or “viewing,” was held prior to burial to give loved ones from distant places a chance to say goodbye. A wake was often held in the family’s home, though nowadays viewings are most often held in funeral homes.
Some historians theorize such gatherings are called a wake, as the family of the loved one watched over the body hoping the person would “wake” up. Another theory is based on the Nordic tradition of sending the body of the deceased off in a boat and watching it float away – watching the “wake” of the departing boat.
In modern tradition, the viewing is considered an important part of the grieving process. Often people are in denial about the loss of a loved one, and seeing them laid out for the service is a way to bring closure to acknowledge that the person is deceased, so that they may move through the grieving process towards healing.