Category Archives: Cultural Perspectives

Anyone who’s watched Indiana Jones or Lara Croft explore ancient cities to claim buried treasure won’t blink twice at the concept of a grave robber. After all, what else would motivate others to dig up the dead, ransack their tombs, … Continue reading →

Of all of the indelible memorials in Alan Ball’s “Six Feet Under,” the biker funeral is perhaps the most memorable. Wanting to celebrate their fallen brother, a biker gang throws a blow-out funeral on Christmas Day in the Fisher & … Continue reading →

It is commonplace to share a meal after the burial of a loved one. Traditional funeral foods span the globe from Irish wake cakes and Mormon potato casserroles to the comforts of southern fried chicken. For generations, the Swiss village … Continue reading →

Do you ever find yourself praying to a dearly departed loved one, asking for guidance and support? There is a part of me that believes my grandparents’ spirits are watching over me as I trip along the bumpy road of … Continue reading →

While turning funerals into celebratory events is an increasingly common phenomenon around the globe, Taiwan has been honoring its dead in a rather unique way since the 1980s: with funeral strippers. Young women perform on what are known as “Electric … Continue reading →

Imagine gazing out into the distance, toward where your loved one is buried, to see a comforting light winking from a stone tower. This was once the experience of those who lived with “Lanterns of the Dead” (or “Lanternes de … Continue reading →