Cultural Cultural Observances of Observances of

DeathDeath

MourningMourning

►Grief over the death of someoneGrief over the death of someone

►A cultural complex of behaviors in A cultural complex of behaviors in which the bereaved participate or are which the bereaved participate or are expected to participateexpected to participate

Continental EuropeContinental Europe

► Custom of wearing black clothing for Custom of wearing black clothing for mourning dates back to the Roman Empiremourning dates back to the Roman Empire

►Women in mourning and widows wore Women in mourning and widows wore distinctive black caps and veilsdistinctive black caps and veils

► In rural areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, In rural areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece, widows will wear black the Italy and Greece, widows will wear black the rest of their lives and the immediate family rest of their lives and the immediate family will wear black for an extended period of will wear black for an extended period of time time

Western ChristianityWestern Christianity

►Violet, black, or white vestments are Violet, black, or white vestments are worn at masses for the deadworn at masses for the dead

►Christian churches go into mourning Christian churches go into mourning during the period of Lent to during the period of Lent to commemorate the sacrifice and death commemorate the sacrifice and death of Jesusof Jesus

►Customs vary among denominations Customs vary among denominations and may cover or remove statuary, and may cover or remove statuary, icons, and paintings.icons, and paintings.

Eastern ChristianityEastern Christianity

► Orthodox Christians hold the funeral the day after Orthodox Christians hold the funeral the day after death or on the third day, and always during the death or on the third day, and always during the daytimedaytime

► In traditional Orthodox communities, the body would be In traditional Orthodox communities, the body would be washed and prepared for burial by family and friendswashed and prepared for burial by family and friends

► A house in mourning would be recognized by the coffin A house in mourning would be recognized by the coffin lid with a cross on it and often has flowers set on the lid with a cross on it and often has flowers set on the front porchfront porch

► Special prayers held on the 3Special prayers held on the 3rdrd, 9, 9thth, and 40, and 40thth days after days after death; the 3death; the 3rdrd, 6, 6thth, and 9, and 9thth months; and annually in a months; and annually in a memorial service for up to three generationsmemorial service for up to three generations

► Sometimes men in mourning will not shave for 40 daysSometimes men in mourning will not shave for 40 days► Not uncommon for widows to remain in mourning dress Not uncommon for widows to remain in mourning dress

for the rest of their livesfor the rest of their lives

CatholicismCatholicism

►See death as passage from this life to a See death as passage from this life to a new lifenew life

►Catholic funeral service is called the Mass Catholic funeral service is called the Mass of the Resurrectionof the Resurrection

►Eulogies may be delivered at a wake or Eulogies may be delivered at a wake or non-religious ceremonynon-religious ceremony

►A final graveside farewell usually takes A final graveside farewell usually takes placeplace

►Other traditions depending on the regionOther traditions depending on the region

IslamIslam

► Believe that there is another world after death for Believe that there is another world after death for which the believer should prepare during their lives which the believer should prepare during their lives on earthon earth

► The corpse is bathed, wrapped in a plain cloth The corpse is bathed, wrapped in a plain cloth (kafan). Deceased is buried in the ground after the (kafan). Deceased is buried in the ground after the funeral service. Only burial in the ground is allowed funeral service. Only burial in the ground is allowed according to Islamic Law (Shari’ ah)according to Islamic Law (Shari’ ah)

► Mourners gather and offer prayers of forgiveness of Mourners gather and offer prayers of forgiveness of the deceasedthe deceased

► Loved ones and relatives are to observe a 3-day Loved ones and relatives are to observe a 3-day mourning period.mourning period.

► Widows observe an extended period, 4 months and Widows observe an extended period, 4 months and 10 days. She is not to remarry, move from her 10 days. She is not to remarry, move from her home, or wear decorative clothing or jewelryhome, or wear decorative clothing or jewelry

JudaismJudaism

► Death in this life will eventually lead to resurrection in a new Death in this life will eventually lead to resurrection in a new world to comeworld to come

► Dead is buried as soon as possibleDead is buried as soon as possible► Body is washed to purify it and dressed in a plain linen clothBody is washed to purify it and dressed in a plain linen cloth► Casket remains closed after the body is dressed and the body Casket remains closed after the body is dressed and the body

is watched over from time of death until burialis watched over from time of death until burial► The kaddish (prayer in honor of dead) is saidThe kaddish (prayer in honor of dead) is said► Following the burial, Shiva takes place for seven days of Following the burial, Shiva takes place for seven days of

mourningmourning► Some people may make a small tear in their clothing to Some people may make a small tear in their clothing to

indicate a lack of interest in personal vanityindicate a lack of interest in personal vanity► Some may cover mirrors, sit on the floor or low stools, andSome may cover mirrors, sit on the floor or low stools, and

not wear leathernot wear leather► Full mourning lasts one year and then is observed yearlyFull mourning lasts one year and then is observed yearly

HinduismHinduism► Death is not seen as the final ‘end”, but is seen as a Death is not seen as the final ‘end”, but is seen as a

turning point in the endless journey of the soul turning point in the endless journey of the soul through innumerable bodies of animals and peoplethrough innumerable bodies of animals and people

► Prohibits excessive mourning as this can hinder the Prohibits excessive mourning as this can hinder the passage of the departed soulpassage of the departed soul

► Hinduism associates death with ritual impurity for Hinduism associates death with ritual impurity for the immediate family and they must not perform the immediate family and they must not perform religious ceremonies (except funeral), not visit religious ceremonies (except funeral), not visit temples or other sacred places, not read or recite temples or other sacred places, not read or recite from sacred scriptures, not attend social functions.from sacred scriptures, not attend social functions.

► Customary that guests do not eat or drink in the Customary that guests do not eat or drink in the house of the deceasedhouse of the deceased

► Family of deceased is required to bath 2 times a Family of deceased is required to bath 2 times a day and eat a single simple vegetarian mealday and eat a single simple vegetarian meal

► Mourning begins immediately after the cremation of the body Mourning begins immediately after the cremation of the body and ends on the “morning of the 13and ends on the “morning of the 13thth day” day”

► Traditionally the body is cremated within 24 hours after deathTraditionally the body is cremated within 24 hours after death► A lamp is lit near the deceased and kept burning for 3 daysA lamp is lit near the deceased and kept burning for 3 days► On the day the death has occurred, the family doesn’t cookOn the day the death has occurred, the family doesn’t cook► White clothing is the color of mourning (purity)White clothing is the color of mourning (purity)► Male members of the family don’t get a hair cut or shave and Male members of the family don’t get a hair cut or shave and

the female members do not wash their hair until the 10the female members do not wash their hair until the 10thth day dayOn 10On 10thth day then all of this is shaved and washed day then all of this is shaved and washed

► On the morning of the 13On the morning of the 13thth day a ceremony is performed day a ceremony is performed► The main ceremony involves a fire sacrifice to ensure the The main ceremony involves a fire sacrifice to ensure the

deceased has a peaceful afterlife (offerings to gods and deceased has a peaceful afterlife (offerings to gods and ancestors)ancestors)

► After the ceremony, the family cleans and washes all idols in After the ceremony, the family cleans and washes all idols in the shrine and flowers, fruits, water, and purified food are the shrine and flowers, fruits, water, and purified food are offered to the godsoffered to the gods

► The family now breaks the period of mourning and returns The family now breaks the period of mourning and returns back to daily lifeback to daily life