Life celebration customs in the United States are changing. Memorials no longer automatically mean black-tie visitations and a burial. Rather, they can be an uplifting event that highlights the unique identity of the loved one being honored. Additionally, COVID-19 made virtual gatherings more commonplace. We see many families continuing to choose virtual gatherings of remembrance, even after pandemic conditions have subsided, because it makes coming together easier when family members are spread out throughout the country or even around the world. As traditions around burials, funerals, memorials, and life celebrations in the United States evolve and become more diverse, it is interesting to explore the diverse range of meaningful rituals and celebrations practiced around the world.
Return-to-the-Earth Life Celebration
United States traditions typically dictate that we leave a body to rest in a single place forever; whether in a coffin or casket below ground or in an urn. But from the Arctic Ocean to the tropical rainforests of the Philippines, there are cultures that believe in releasing the body and soul back to the earth in a more organic manner.
- Water – People of Nordic cultures often tie water into their burial practices. This includes setting the body adrift on a ship or platform so that the water may eventually become “the burial ground.” They are also known to lay coffins atop cliffs that face toward the water. Incorporating water into life ceremonies is a way in which these cultures (1) give back to the gods and (2) place their loved ones in the most valuable and significant geographic feature of their area.
- Sky – Referred to as a Sky Burial, a common practice among the Buddhists of Tibet is to leave bodies atop a mountain. The intention is for birds and other animals to feed off of the body. There are a couple of considerations surrounding this practice. First, placing the body up high helps send the soul to heaven. Second, allowing the body to be “emptied” by animals therefore allows the soul to depart. And finally, using the end of one’s life as a reason to give sustenance to the living allows that person to fill their ultimate role in the circle of life.
- Trees – We in the United States will commonly arrange for our own burial plot or make known where we want our ashes to be kept. The Caviteño people of the Philippines have a very similar tradition but with a more earth-centric tone. It is customary to place the deceased vertically in a hollowed out tree trunk. And which tree is to hold the loved one, is chosen by them prior to death.
Life Celebration Parade
What better suits a true celebration than a parade? Food, music, dancing in the streets, and bright colors categorize these four unique customs.
- Lavish affair – You’ve heard of couples putting away money to be able to afford a big wedding. Could the same notion be applied to a life celebration? The Tana Toraja people of Eastern Indonesia see funerals as a boisterous festival that can last days or even weeks! And it typically requires saving money and resources over a number of years to make sure your funeral is as celebratory as you like to picture it. The celebrations conclude with the soul being carried into the afterlife by the way of a sacrificial water buffalo.
- Jazz Band – Mixing traditions from West Africa, French, and African American cultures, funerals in New Orleans are often a swinging good time. Funeral participants and the casket are led through the streets by a jazz marching band to the burial ground. Once the body has been placed into the ground, the music is typically kicked up a notch, resulting in celebratory dancing to honor the life that was well-lived.
- Colorful Meaning – In the United States we typically wear black to a funeral and you may have heard that in many other cultures, attendees wear white. But the concept of color and life celebration is taken a step further by the people of Varanasi, India. Following a death, the body is paraded through the streets dressed in colors that highlight their character. For example, red represents the virtue of purity and yellow represents knowledge.
Customs of Cremation
Part of the planning process of a life celebration can involve deciding what to do with the ashes if the person wanted to be cremated. Sometimes, our loved one will tell us beforehand where they want to be kept or scattered. This is very common around the world and cremation traditions can take varying forms in different cultures.
- Beads of Life – South Korea has an interesting tradition that you could say was born out of necessity. In this country, bodies can only be buried for 60 years. So many families opt for cremation instead, and the ashes are then compacted into beads. These beads are beautiful and brightly colored, intended to be put on display in the home of their relatives.
- Staying in the Family – Cremating the body is considered a sacred duty in Balinese tradition. The belief is that the soul can then be released from the body. Moreover, the soul is free to inhabit new life; typically a younger member of their family.
A Modern-Day Snapshot from Lighten
Lighten has the privilege of working with families to create life celebrations that are highly unique and deeply personal. Some highlights from life celebrations that Lighten has planned include playing the song Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die as the closing song, choosing the Chicago Museum as the celebration’s venue, and including a memorial tribute in the form of a puppet show. We want families to know that there is no right or wrong way to celebrate a life. Whether you would like to incorporate an end-of-life tradition that your family has practiced for years, or you want to create something brand new based on your loved one’s unique identity (or a combination of both!), Lighten is here to help.
SOURCES
May Torgovnick, K. (1, Oct, 2013). Death is not the end: fascinating funeral traditions from around the globe. TED. https://ideas.ted.com/11-fascinating-funeral-traditions-from-around-the-globe/
Newcomb, T. (n.d.). 7 unique burial rituals across the world. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/7-unique-burial-rituals-across-the-world
