> (In reply to Fredt)
>
> It's so as not to be blinded by the sight of the soul escaping through the top of the coffin.
You beat me to it... I reckon it could be down to fear of being dazzled by some kind of supernatural happening, what with the religious revival that people seem to be on about a lot. It can't be to hide the tears as surely the sort of posers who wear sunglasses indoors would be only too happy for their tears to be fully visible?
In reply to Fredt: Its so the vicar or preist, or whatever they are called dont recognise you from when you nicked the lead from the roof and drank the free wine