Funeral rituals in different cultures Content Funerals

Funeral rituals in different cultures

Content Funerals and attitude to death in Western culture Death and rituals in Eastern culture Unusual funerals

“For any culture which is primarily concerned with meaning, the study of death - the only certainty that life holds for us - must be central, for an understanding of death is the key to liberation in life” Stanislav Grof

Western religions Christianity Judaism Islam

Christian funerals believe in afterlife can be buried or cremated ceremony is held in church or at home and conducted by a priest funeral guests should dress in a respectable manner

Jewish funerals believe that after death they will be with God the body is never left alone until funerals the washing of the body is a holy act Jews may not be cremated each grave must have a tombstone

Islamic funerals believe that the soul continues to exist after death the body is laid out with their arms across their chest and head facing Mecca no women are allowed to go into the graveyard a chamber dug into the grave sealed with wooden boards is used

Eastern religions Buddhism Hinduism Sikhism

Buddhist funerals believe in rebirth simple service at the crematorium chapel may either be cremated or buried speeches and chants coffin may be surrounded by objects significant to the person who has died

Hindu funerals believe in reincarnation it’s a time of celebration the corpse will be bathed and dressed in white the body is decorated with sandalwood and flowers Hindus are cremated

Sikh funerals believe in reincarnation and afterlife Sikhs are cremated five symbols of Sikh membership are placed in the coffin it is forbidden to cry hymns may be sung, prayers and the poem Sohila read

Unusual funeral traditions “Sky burials” in Tibet Fantasy coffins in Ghana

Unusual funeral traditions Hanging coffins in Philippines Ocean burial

Unusual funeral traditions Jazz funeral in New Orleans