How do different cultures cope with death?

You can learn a lot about a culture’s values, traditions, and beliefs through its after-death rituals. These help us gain perspective on how others honor, grieve, and support their loved ones after death.

Traditional American and Canadian after-death rituals typically include a visitation, funeral or memorial service, burial, and luncheon. Some individuals carry a loved one’s memory forward by celebrating the deceased’s birthday, anniversary or other milestones.

Below are examples of after-death rituals practiced by cultures outside of the US and Canada.

Madagascar’s Turning of the Bones

In Madagascar, loved ones are celebrated with a joyous ceremony called “famadihana,” the “turning of the bones.” The event takes place during the day and ends right before the sun sets. Every five to seven years, the body is removed from the ancestral crypts for the celebration, and is laid to rest for another seven years thereafter. In preparation, family members remove their loved one’s previous burial garments and wrap them in new garments. They celebrate their loved one’s life by drinking, dancing, and socializing. Before sunset, the body is reinterred, positioned upside down, and the crypt is sealed for another five to seven years.

The Madagascar culture believes that the departed only move on once their bones have completely decomposed. In the event that the body does not decompose, it is believed that the loved one exists in a limbo state.

Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos is an annual celebration to honor and reconnect with loved ones that have passed. It is a time to reflect, share stories, and bond with family while remembering deceased loved ones. This celebration takes place in the home or at the cemetery. Decorations and activities include altars filled with loved one’s favorite foods, floral arrangements in the cemetery, food, and music. While this celebration has been commercialized to some degree, it continues to be a holiday focused on remembering and celebrating deceased loved ones.  

Ghana “Fantasy” Coffins

In Ghana, there is a great respect for deceased loved ones, and it is believed they have an impactful role in daily lives. In an effort to show respect, love, and honor, Ghanaians create fantasy coffins to lay their loved ones to rest. The fantasy coffin is decorative and represents the lifestyle of the deceased. Examples of these coffins include images of a hobby, profession or favorite things. The intent of the fantasy coffin is to send off the loved in a vessel to continue doing what they enjoy into the afterlife.

For images of many different kinds of fantasy coffins, click here.

Learning different after-death rituals provides new perspectives and may influence how we want to celebrate our deceased loved ones. How do you want to be remembered and celebrated? We encourage you to share your example or thoughts on after-death rituals in the comments section below.

— Lesley Hellow