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“Making Mobiles” by Karolina Merska: An artist’s manual on how to create beautiful Polish pajaki -
“Hands Up to the Sky” by Michael Franti & Spearhead: A surprisingly upbeat song about acknowledging both loss and the beauty of life -
Coping With Election Grief: While half of Americans are celebrating, the other half are in mourning
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Categories
Tag Archives: Funeral Traditions
The Traditions and Customs of Catholic Funeral Mass
What to expect from a mass and which traditions you should follow
When I worked as a hospice social worker, the care team often attended the funerals of clients who had died. I saw many ceremonies that were beautiful and meaningful, but the one that touched me most was the Catholic funeral … Continue reading
Telling the Bees: A Medieval Funeral Tradition
A funeral tradition that reflects the central importance of bees in daily life and worldview
Bees were highly prized in Medieval Europe for their honey and wax. The honey was used as a sweetener and medicine, as well as the key ingredient in mead — a mildly alcoholic drink that was consumed for its nutritive … Continue reading
Belarusian Death Traditions: Funeral, Food & Family
Belarusian funeral traditions focus on two things: food and family
Belarus is a country whose history and culture remains a mystery to many westerners. As a place nestled between Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, Belarus also has a history as a divided country. Yet, it’s precisely this diversity … Continue reading
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
The Shift From Burials To Cremation In Western Culture
How journalist Jessica Mitford helped spark a cultural shift in our end-of-life practices
A popular joke goes a little something like this: one fish swims up to another fish and asks, “How’s the water?” The other fish responds, “What the hell is water?” David Foster Wallace and Derek Sivers have used this joke … Continue reading
How Can You Work with a Funeral Director to Plan a Personalized Funeral? An Interview with Amy Cunningham
Funeral Director Amy Cunningham gives us some ideas for planning a funeral that you can be proud of
New York funeral director Amy Cunningham founded the firm Fitting Tribute Funeral Services, and is the creator of The Inspired Funeral blog. A former magazine journalist and blogger for beliefnet.com, Amy has much experience with home vigils, alternative rituals, mixed faith … Continue reading
Posted in Professional Advice
Tagged Amy Cunningham, Death Saying Goodbye, Funeral Director, Funeral home, Funeral Planning, funeral planning checklist, Funeral Traditions, Home Funeral, home vigils, Memorial Service, Memorial Service Planning, mourning a loved one, New York Funeral Director
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