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Many ethnic groups in the Philippines have unique funeral practices. The Kankanaey people hang their coffins, as they believe the closer to the sky, the closer the deceased is to heaven.
Many Cambodians are Buddhists, so they believe that death is part of a cycle of reincarnation. Close relatives and family members will wear white, the color of mourning, and possibly shave their heads for the funeral.
When a loved one dies in Aboriginal society in Australia’s Northern Territory, elaborate rituals begin. First, a smoking ceremony is held in the loved one’s living area to drive away their spirit. Next, a feast is held, as mourners partake in food and dance.
In the US, more and more people are opting for environmentally-friendly burials. This means people are getting biodegradable, woven willow caskets, which decompose into the ground.
In the Balinese tradition, cremation releases the soul, so it is free to inhabit a new body. It's considered a sacred duty, and cremations are usually a lavish celebration.
These custom coffins aren't your ordinary coffin, they are designed to capture the essence of the deceased and reflect either their personalities, professions, or hobbies.
With limited burial grounds available, many locals choose cremation. And as it's considered taboo to bring the ashes home, and expensive to pay for a cremation niche, many choose to have an ash scattering ceremony at sea.
Iran’s funeral rituals can take days, and they have been strongly influenced by the country's Islamic faith. The body is prepared for burial by being washed nine times and wrapped in a white shroud. It’s considered highly holy to help carry or touch the coffin, so funeral processions often involve huge crowds around the coffin.
Italian funeral traditions are consistent with Catholicism. The casket is usually open, and it's common practice to kiss the cheek or forehead of the deceased's body.
A spiritual capital of Hinduism, getting cremated in the holy city of Varanasi is seen as a way to reach nirvana and escape the cycle of reincarnation. Funeral pyres are openly displayed along the Ganges, honoring the dead and dying.
Christian funeral practices generally follow the Church of Iceland's liturgy book. The funeral is held in a church and performed by a priest, then the coffin is either taken to the cemetery or cremated.
Due to Buddhist traditions, cremation is a popular choice for the Japanese. After the funeral, the body is cremated and family members use chopsticks to remove bone fragments from the cremated remains. Then they place the fragments in an urn, which is brought to a family grave.
In Jewish tradition, immediate family members tear a piece of their clothing as a symbol of the loss and grief they are experiencing. This occurs before the funeral ceremony.
For the Masai people of Kenya and Tanzania, bodies of the dead are left out in the fields for scavengers to consume. Formal burials are only reserved for chiefs as a sign of respect.
A ritual called Ma’nene, by the Toraja people in Indonesia, is a way to honor the dead. Families dig up the bodies, clean them, and dress them in new clothes. By showing their dead relatives that they still love and care for them, they hope to be blessed with a good harvest the following year.
Funeral customs in Mexico are deeply rooted in Catholicism, with a burial and a Catholic mass being held. One unique aspect of Mexican culture is the annual Day of the Dead that celebrates the deceased with food and drink, candles, sugar skulls, flowers, and more.
A tradition known as el muerto parao sees some families choose to have the corpse standing or propped up on a chair with its eyes open. An elaborate memorial celebrating who they were and their interests is staged around them.
Sources: (TED Ideas) (Insider) (The Culture Trip)
Similar to a Catholic funeral service, there is a wake where the body of the deceased is placed in their own house or at a relative's home. Family, friends, and neighbors gather for three days and nights in order to pray for the deceased. After the funeral procession, there's a feast where people eat kasza, a sort of oatmeal, with honey and vodka.
In Eastern Orthodox tradition, funeral services have the deceased placed in a coffin with multiple blankets and pillows. Mourners also prepare the deceased for the other world by placing anything they believe the person will need in their afterlife.
According to the traditions of the Igbo tribe, death doesn’t represent the end of life, but instead the transition to a new world. So after the body has been buried, they have a 'second burial,' which is a lavish celebration filled with food, drinks, and entertainment. It lasts anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
The windows of a house in which the deceased lived may be smeared with ash, and the bed is removed from the dead person’s room. After the funeral, everybody may wash off the dust and dirt from the graveyard before they enter the house, to wash off bad luck.
In Mongolia, the traditional burial ceremony is an intricate process where people in attendance pray and place blue stones in the bed where the body is laying. A white veil is placed over the face to prevent evil spirits from entering. When the body is ready, it's left outside the village for dogs and vultures to consume.
Many Vajrayana Buddhists in Tibet believe in the transmigration of spirits after death. To return it to earth, the body is chopped into pieces and placed on a mountaintop. It’s a practice that’s been done for thousands of years.
Because of the lack of graveyard space, cremation has become much more popular in South Korea. People are choosing to transform the ashes into gem-like beads in turquoise, pink, or black, known as death beads. These are then displayed in the home.
In Taiwan, having an extravagant, large funeral is a sign of wealth and social status. For this reason, some families go so far as to hire bright trucks with neon lights and strippers to turn it into an extravagant party!
With a mix of West African, French, and African-American traditions, funerals in New Orleans have a unique balance between joy and grief as mourners are led by a marching band. The music starts off sorrowful, but once the body is buried, it shifts to an upbeat note.
The Malagasy people of Madagascar have a famous ritual called famadihana, or the turning of bones. Once every five or seven years, families celebrate at their ancestral crypt where the bodies, wrapped in cloth, are exhumed and sprayed with wine or perfume. For many, it's a chance to pass on good news and ask the deceased for blessings.
Around the world, different cultures practice their own specific traditions when someone passes away, which also reflects a wide variety of beliefs and values. For instance, in some places, funerals are somber affairs, and include people dressed in black mourning over the coffin. In other places, funerals are a lively celebration of the dead, filled with music, dancing, and delicious foods and drinks.
Want to take a trip around the globe and examine some funeral traditions? Then click through this gallery.
In the Pacific nation of Kiribati, the body of the deceased is exhumed a few months after the burial. The skull is then taken, polished, and preserved so that the family can display it in their home.
Want to take a trip around the globe and examine some funeral traditions? Then click through this gallery.
Fascinating funeral traditions around the world
Find out how these cultures honor the dead
LIFESTYLE Death
Around the world, different cultures practice their own specific traditions when someone passes away, which also reflects a wide variety of beliefs and values. For instance, in some places, funerals are somber affairs, and include people dressed in black mourning over the coffin. In other places, funerals are a lively celebration of the dead, filled with music, dancing, and delicious foods and drinks.
Want to take a trip around the globe and examine some funeral traditions? Then click through this gallery.