Tag Archives: Mourning Traditions

Kifudu Funeral Dance of the Giriama People

This African dance brings communities together to send spirits of loved ones to ancestral realms

The Giriama are an agricultural and hunter-gatherer sub-group of the larger Mijikenda ethnic group who live along the coast of Kenya. One of the distinguishing features of their cultural and spiritual life — and a main reason why they were able … Continue reading

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Bark Cloth: The Oldest Mourning Garment?

Bark cloth has long been crafted in Borneo to create mourning garments after the death of a loved one

Reflecting on the material items various countries associate with death and dying can be telling on both a ritualistic and practical level (ex. “Western” culture’s penchant for wearing black to funerals; South Korea’s move towards “burial beads” in the wake … Continue reading

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The Jewish Mourning Tradition of Shiva

An exploration into the meaning and rituals of Shiva

When a practicing member of Judaism dies, the first stage of the mourning traditions is Shiva. The word “Shiva” means seven and originates from the beginning of the Torah, when Joseph mourned the loss of his father Jacob for seven … Continue reading

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