Extraordinary and outlandish burial traditions and rituals around the world
Tomato fights and Easter processions in Spain. Thanksgiving turkeys and kisses under the mistletoe in America. Or, karaoke nights and cherry blossom festivals in Japan. As travelers know: The saying “Strange countries, strange customs” continues to prove true. What is more, there are even regions in the same country that have managed to hold on to their own unique customs, traditions and rituals. Just think of the Daffodil Festival in the Ausseerland region. Or, Perchtenlaufen in Tyrol. Or, the coffee house culture in Vienna. Traditional costumes, foods, dances and, of course, the dialects that characterize our region are additional aspects that are inextricably linked to the area in which we grew up. No wonder then that every country and every region have their own distinct burial culture as well: The world has witnessed the development of scores of different burial traditions and rituals. In this blog post, we will be presenting some of the most unusual among these rituals.
Grieving and saying good-bye: Burial rituals world-wide
A grave at the cemetery, an urn at home or a burial at sea – mourners in Austria have been able for a while now to choose from a variety of burial options. Rituals that have formed around these options include eulogies, the wearing of the color black, expressions of condolences or bidding farewell to the deceased at the open grave with flowers and soil thrown on the casket. If you look beyond our borders, you will find that there are a great many more burial traditions and rituals in the world that could not be more different from what we consider customary. For example:
Grief animators and the color white
In China, the number one color for expressing grief is not black, but white. But, that is not all: The Chinese not only strive to have present as many guests as possible but also employ the services of grief animators every now and then. Their duty is to break out into vociferous crying, weeping and wailing in a bid to animate others into doing likewise and putting their grief on full public display.
Burial in the Sacred River
The Ganges, the second-largest river in India, is considered sacred by Hindus. This is why many choose this stream as their final resting place: This wish can be attributed to a century-old Hindu tradition according to which the deceased are cremated before their ashes are scattered. The downside: The enormous pollution of this river is continuously exacerbated by this practice.
A feast for vultures
We have to admit: It sounds ghoulish. In Tibet, the deceased are rubbed with barley and yak butter or chopped up and then transported to the steppe. There, they serve as a welcome meal for vultures. However, the reasons behind this practice sound logical: The ubiquitous rock-filled soils in Central Asia simply do not allow for in-ground burials in graves. By the way, this funeral practice is called sky burial. You can also look at it this way: The lucky ones can go on one final trip if their remains are picked up by the vultures
Hanging coffins between rocks and cliffs
Coffins suspended from rock cliffs – that is an image that requires some getting used to for us Europeans. In the Philippines, however, the custom of placing deceased persons in suspended coffins and hanging them in place between cliffs or crevices is nothing unusual. Especially the indigenous people of the Igorots believe that the dead would suffocate underground and their souls would be trapped in an in-ground burial.
Dancing with the dead
In Madagascar, the relatives of the deceased exhume the dead one more time – in order to dance with them. This ritual of removing and replacing the corpse is referred to as Famadihana – and the whole village joins in with the dancing. In the course of this ritual, the dead are re-wrapped in silk cloths, and the revelers enjoy a feast and music together. This practice is intended to strengthen the bond with the deceased and is easily one of the most outlandish burial traditions and rituals in the world.
Ein Festmahl für die Geier
Zugegeben: Es klingt makaber. In Tibet werden Verstorbene in Gerste und Yakbutter eingerieben oder zerkleinert und in die Steppe transportiert. Dort freuen sich Geier über dieses Mahl. Die Gründe hierfür klingen aber logisch: Die Steinböden des zentralasiatischen Raums lassen Erdbestattungen mit Gräbern einfach nicht zu. Diese Form wird übrigens Himmelsbestattung genannt. Man kann es auch so sehen: Wer Glück hat, dessen Überreste begeben sich mit den Geiern noch einmal auf eine letzte Reise.
Ashes to turf
To some, the love of soccer knows no boundaries – and is supposed to extend beyond their own death. This wish is satisfied by some well-known clubs such as Manchester United. The key components of this funeral package include a professional funeral service, splendid decorations and, finally, the scattering of the ashes of the deceased over the “sacred lawn” in the stadium or behind the goal line.
Carnival by the grave
While not directly linked to a specific funeral, the Día de los muertos celebrated by Mexicans must not be omitted from our list of the world's most unusual burial traditions and rituals: The celebrations are held in the night before November 1. For this occasion, Mexicans dress up as skeletons and decorate the streets with altars to honor the departed. Late at night during the festivities the relatives of the deceased come together at the grave, bring gifts, share a meal and celebrate the feeling of being close to their deceased loved ones one more time. They do so because their faith teaches them that in this night the dead return to Earth to join their family again.
Personal rituals and mementos
Even though every culture and society has their own burial rituals, you should not allow anyone to influence the way you grieve. Instead, find out for yourself what feels good to you, what helps you gain the ability to let go or what gives you the support you need to recover from the loss of a beloved person or pet. One possible way for you may be to carry your loved one or beloved animal on your person at all times – for example, in the shape of a gemstone. We at Mevisto will be happy to create your own personal Stone of Eternity for you. All we need are 10 g of hair or 50-100 g of ashes to craft that special memento of those who accompanied you in your life.