Shiva is a week-long mourning process that begins immediately following the burial of a loved one. It typically takes place at the home of the deceased or the home of an immediate family member. During this time, mourners do not work or participate in other community events. Instead, they stay at the Shiva home for the duration of Shiva. The purpose is to be free of distractions so you can focus on the loss and begin to heal.
While the basic guidelines for Shiva have been followed for centuries, it is becoming more common for families to not observe Shiva as strictly. Depending on the family’s level of observance or the deceased’s wishes, many families may only sit Shiva for one to three days. Also, because many families are spread out and live in different cities, it is quite common to for Shiva to occur simultaneously at different homes of the family.