{"id":41614,"date":"2022-09-14T15:03:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T19:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/?p=41614"},"modified":"2023-02-27T16:53:49","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T21:53:49","slug":"grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/","title":{"rendered":"Grief is a Universal Experience: What Can We Learn About Grief From Other Cultures?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"41614\" class=\"elementor elementor-41614\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-299b46b0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"299b46b0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57f928a2\" data-id=\"57f928a2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d814af elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d814af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>While people around the world react to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we\u2019re reminded that grief is truly a universal experience. From Dia de los Muertos in Mexico to South Korean burial beads to the elaborate preplanning of a monarch\u2019s public mourning \u2013 funeral customs are just as unique as the cultures they\u2019re from. Whichever end-of-life rituals are followed, they provide comfort for the family and loved ones of the deceased, ultimately creating opportunities to find purpose and healing.<\/p><p>We\u2019ve put together a list of some of the most vibrant, intricate, and unique traditions and customs from around the world. These mourning and funeral practices, though they vary greatly from region to region and country to country, may surprise, inspire, or bring peace to others along their <a href=\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/how-grief-journaling-can-help-you-to-heal-after-a-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">journey with grief<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Dia de los Muertos, Mexico:<\/h2><p>The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that dates back to over 3,000 years ago when the Aztecs and other neighboring cultures believed death to be an integral, ever-present part of life. A blend of Mesoamerican, European, and Spanish beliefs and customs, the holiday is celebrated from October 31-November 2 every year. According to tradition, on Dia de los Muertos, the border between the spirit world and living world opens, and families welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones. Colorful altars, called <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ofrendas<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, are displayed in their homes and decorated with flowers, candles, and their loved ones\u2019 favorite foods. Family members then gather in the cemetery to \u201cspend time\u201d with the dead, play music, eat food, swap stories, and celebrate the lives of those who are no longer on this earth.<\/span><\/p><h2>Burial Beads, South Korea:<\/h2><p>Due to its limited space for cemeteries and high population, South Korea passed specific laws and restrictions on earth burials in the early 2000s. In response, cremation rates have skyrocketed over the past two decades, and South Korean families developed a creative, beautiful tradition to honor their loved ones. Instead of a decorative urn to hold their loved one\u2019s remains, the ashes are turned into beautiful beads. Not intended to be worn, these shiny blue-green, pink, or black beads are displayed in clear glass containers in their home. This practice keeps their loved ones nearby as a reminder of the beautiful life they lived.<\/p><h2>Jazz Funeral, New Orleans:<\/h2><p>Stateside, different regions of our country have many different traditions surrounding death. One of the most joyful is the jazz funeral, a blend of African and European culture, music, and dance, often in celebration of a musician who has passed away. Typically, a jazz funeral begins at a church or funeral home and leads the way to the cemetery. Family and friends are joined by a brass band, who play mournful music at the start before turning celebratory. After the burial, a post-funeral party takes place with dancing, elaborate fashion and clothing, and lively music.<\/p><h2>Operation London Bridge, United Kingdom:<\/h2><p>Years ago, the U.K. created <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/09\/08\/1121745136\/queen-elizabeth-2-death-protocol-public-ceremonies-funeral-accession\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an elaborate 10-day plan<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that would be set in motion upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This is an intricately choreographed plan, referred to as Operation London Bridge, that not only covers the plan for the Queen\u2019s public mourning period but also the many procedures &#8211; both new and traditional &#8211; that the palace, government, media, local authorities, and others must follow. Many of the arrangements were decided by the Queen herself. Details include everything from when and how to notify the public to the lowering of flags to the proclamation of the new sovereign&#8217;s accession to the throne. After her 70-year-reign, such an elaborate affair is more than appropriate.<\/span><\/p><h2>Dancing with the Dead, Madagascar:<\/h2><p>Known locally as <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">famadihana<\/span><\/i>, this death ritual in Madagascar happens between five to seven years after the initial burial. The loved one is exhumed, allowing the family to remove the previous burial clothing and redress them in fresh silk shrouds. Mourners then eat, drink, and converse with their deceased family members. A subsequent ceremony takes place to lay their loved ones to rest for the next five to seven years. Right before sunset, the body is carefully returned to its resting place and turned upside down. Also referred to as \u201cthe turning of the bones,\u201d this ritual is considered sacred by the island\u2019s Malagasy people and has been in practice for centuries.<\/p><h2>Traditional Irish Wake, Ireland:<\/h2><p>There\u2019s no party like an Irish funeral. In their culture, a funeral or wake is anything but a somber affair. Storytelling, singing and playing music, pranking, and other light-hearted games are enjoyed by loved ones, friends, and the community in an effort to celebrate good memories and ease the pain of the grieving family. There are many niche customs and traditions that play a part in an Irish wake. Inside the home, clocks are stopped at the time of death, the mirrors in the house are turned around or covered, and all curtains are to be drawn except for the window closest to the body, which is left open. All in all, an Irish wake is a compassionate balance between celebration and mourning, humor and honor, merry music and prayerful reverence.<\/p><h2>Blended Buddhist-Shinto Rituals, Japan:<\/h2><p>Nine out of ten Japanese funerals are conducted as a blend of two religions, Buddhism and Shinto, a practice that both religions embrace. Most families have a Buddhist altar and a Shinto shrine in their homes. When someone has passed away, the family covers the altar and shrine and prepares a small table with simple flowers and incense next to the bed of the deceased. There are then 20 steps they follow, including specific instructions for preparing the body, purification ceremonies for the earth where the body will be buried, and the funeral service itself. The family remains in a mourning period for 49 days, with some days assigned specific tasks and moments of remembrance.<\/p><p>As you can imagine, this list is only a snapshot of grieving practices around the world. There are many, many traditional and nontraditional ways to honor your loved one. As long as you remain focused on creating a personal, memorable event that reflects the energy and personality of the life being celebrated, you can be at peace knowing they\u2019ve been laid to rest with love.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While people around the world react to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we\u2019re reminded that grief is truly a universal experience. From Dia de los Muertos in Mexico to South Korean burial beads to the elaborate preplanning of a monarch\u2019s public mourning \u2013 funeral customs are just as unique as the cultures they\u2019re from. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":41616,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Grief is a Universal Experience: What Can We Learn About Grief From Other Cultures? - Gerst Funeral Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While people around the world react to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we\u2019re reminded that grief is truly a universal experience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Grief is a Universal Experience: What Can We Learn About Grief From Other Cultures? - Gerst Funeral Home\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While people around the world react to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we\u2019re reminded that grief is truly a universal experience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gerst Funeral Home\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-09-14T19:03:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-02-27T21:53:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/GER_Sept_Featured_Image-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"gerst\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"gerst\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/\",\"name\":\"Grief is a Universal Experience: What Can We Learn About Grief From Other Cultures? - Gerst Funeral Home\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/GER_Sept_Featured_Image-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-09-14T19:03:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-02-27T21:53:49+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f030dd9bd8f0aca75cd5e3bc511cf680\"},\"description\":\"While people around the world react to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we\u2019re reminded that grief is truly a universal experience.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/grief-universal-experience-what-can-we-learn-about-grief-from-other-cultures\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/GER_Sept_Featured_Image-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/gerstfuneralhomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/GER_Sept_Featured_Image-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1280,\"caption\":\"Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos. 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