New Orleans Jazz Funerals (US):
A ‘Jazz Funeral’ begins at a church or funeral home with smartly dressed mourners on a march toward cemetery. Musicians play sad tunes, but as march progresses people join in an impromptu parade, music upwards in mood from dirges to anthems.
Profound Wailing or Booziness (Ireland):
A pre-Christian ritual, a practice called ‘keening’. An old Gaelic term to ‘cry or lament’. Loud, banshee-like wailing by women mourning for soul of departed loved one. Also, toasts are raised at an Irish wake filled with mirth to celebrate life, give comfort to living.
Old Meets New (Russia):
Funeral Zone, departed Russian used to be laid out on dining table. Special commemorations occur on 3rd, 9th, 40th day after death. Also, half-year, one-year marks when mourners pray, feast, give alms to poor.
Buddhism, Nature Of Impermanence (Asia):
Buddhist philosophy needn’t be about death. Rather loss of anything is Nirvana, circle of life, death, re-birth. Silent grieving in solitude.
Hinduism Cremation (India):
Cremation between hours of sunrise, sunset. During mourning, people wear white, vegetarian food. On 13th day, a ‘Shaddra’ ceremony is performed, offering food, gifts to Gods, ancestors, Brahmin priests, family, community.
Islamic Rites:
Muslims emphasise a move to a ‘better place’ after death. Believe loved one has gone to paradise. Read the Quran, body being interred so it faces Mecca, holiest site in Islam. Socialising after funeral is encouraged to deal with grief over food, fellowship.
Chinese Value of Son’s (China):
Traditions, family name is passed to oldest male heir. Eldest son bears responsibilities to honour deceased. Son remains in mourning for 72 days. For 6 months, can’t marry or wear red.
Sitting Shiva (Israel):
Orthodox Jewish sects observe a 7 day period of mourning called ‘Sitting Shiva’. Mourners receive condolences of friends, family while seated on a low stool, box. Recitation of Hebrew Kaddish prayer for dead, readings from Torah in an event called ‘Minyan’ Reciting the Kaddish is for nearly a year leading up to unveiling of tombstone which serves as a ‘Matzevah’, monument to loved one.
Aborigines Stop Speaking of Deceased (Australia):
When natural order of things take the life of a group member, it’s decreed by an elder there would be days of wailing. At the end of which deceased will never be spoken of again. A superstition dead person’s name aloud may inadvertently recall spirit to earth.
Renewal (South Africa):
After celebration of deceased, family begins official mourning. Don’t leave home, speak loudly, laugh. Shave the head as a symbol of death, new life. A ‘ritual cleansing’ of objects, people is performed.
Intriguing, interesting.