Tag Archives: Cultural perspectives on death

The Turning of the Bones in Madagascar

A look at famadihana, a joyous celebration of life and death in Madagascar
Posted on August 20, 2015 by Augusta Wise (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

In Madagascar, the Malagasy people engage in a unique and beautiful tradition called “famadihana.” This translates to “the turning of the bones,” and it is a ritual steeped in history and joy. During “famadihana,” which occurs every two to seven years, the … Continue reading →

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Hermes the Death Doula

Greek god of transitioning and boundaries
Posted on August 13, 2015 by Ellary Allis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Many of us today are thrust into the role of lay death midwife unwittingly. There are altruistic hospice volunteers and angelic professional death doulas and hospice chaplains and hospice nurses who feel called to work with the dying. They choose … Continue reading →

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Yanomami Death Ritual of Endocannibalism

How one of the most primitive tribes in the world continues to practice endocannibalism as a way to keep its late loved ones "alive"
Posted on July 9, 2015 by Zoë Byrne (Editor in Chief, SevenPonds)

The Yanomami tribe, who live spread across 200-250 villages in the Amazon rainforest, practice the traditional death ritual of endocannibalism. This means that loved ones of the person who has died consume his or her flesh as long as he … Continue reading →

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Shraddha: A Hindu Ceremony To Help Souls Enter The Next World After Death

Today we explore the ideology behind the Hindu Ceremony of Shraddha
Posted on January 15, 2015 by Zoë Byrne (Editor in Chief, SevenPonds)

For Hindus, Shraddha is a ceremony that must happen in order to ensure that the souls of their loved ones who have died will enter the next world safely and soundly. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word that means … Continue reading →

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Fearing the Return of the Dead in Romani Burial Traditions

Romani funeral traditions are heavily influenced by beliefs in the supernatural
Posted on July 17, 2014 by Christopher Hewitt (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Romani funeral traditions are characterized by abundance. Enormous, full of relatives, public mourning and solemn ritual, their burial rites amount to a massive procession taken very seriously by everyone involved. Their zeal may arise from a widespread belief in the … Continue reading →

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Guatemalan Funeral Traditions

A look into traditional Guatemalan beliefs about death and funerals
Posted on June 12, 2014 by Zoë Byrne (Editor in Chief, SevenPonds)

Guatemalans follow many traditional Catholic customs regarding death and funerals. When a person dies, there is a sense of urgency to prepare and bury the body. Shortly after a death, someone arrives to prepare for a burial by bathing and … Continue reading →

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