Tag Archives: Death Rituals

Jade Burial Suits on Display at the National Museum of China

The exhibit shows ancient China's long-lasting fashion for the dead

“I look handsome, I look smart. I am a walking work of art. Such a dazzling coat of many colors. . .” So says Joseph in the musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Those lines about making a fashion … Continue reading

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Ukrainian Funerary Traditions Reflect Pre-Christian Perspectives

Ukrainians preserve elements of proto-pagan traditions, despite colonial history and Christian influence

The landmass known today as the Ukraine has a long history of colonization dating back to the Roman Empire, when early Christianity was introduced to the area. Despite this, Ukrainians have retained many of their traditions and ancestral beliefs, which … Continue reading

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Antim Sanskar: The Ancient Practice of Hindu Funeral Rites

Hindu funeral rites celebrate cultural heritage through preparing the body and spirit for the next life

Death, in many cultures, is the ultimate transition that life is leading up to. So it is no surprise that among the core series of sacraments, known as Sanskara, or rituals of perfection, the final rite comes in the funerary … Continue reading

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Death Warmed Over: Funeral Food, Rituals, and Customs from Around the World by Lisa Rogak

One woman’s idea for a cookbook is more like a glimpse into the customs that various cultures partake in surrounding food during funerals

One evening, as I was trying to research the Internet for a topic for my Cultural Perspectives article, I stumbled upon a book called Death Warmed Over: Funeral Food, Rituals, and Customs from Around the World. The concept intrigued me … Continue reading

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Traditional Inheritance and Burial Rites of the Maasai People

Traditional practices of ‘The Father’s Chest’ and Predator Burials in Maasai culture

For the Maasai people, death does not traditionally hold any secrets of the afterlife. Once an individual has passed, their journey has ended. All of their possessions and any of their sins are transferred to the loved ones who survive … Continue reading

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Bringing the Spirit Home in Xhosa Burial Rituals

How the funeral rites of the Xhosa people of South Africa can transform a spirit into an ancestral guide

For most people, the culture, traditions, and even the existence of the Xhosa people would have remained unknown were it not for the death of anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. Although the world will mourn his loss for years to come, with … Continue reading

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