Tag Archives: funeral

A Long Goodbye

Nationality: American/Cameroonian

Age: 19

Occupation: Student

Residence: Arlington, VA

Language: English

TEXT: “In my Cameroonian culture, funerals usually last several days so that everyone has time to come together and support the grieving family. It’s not just a quick one day service and burial, it’s a time for the whole family and the community to gather, share memories, sing, pray and be present with eachother, to remind the grieving family that there is still joy in life. I remember one funeral, a family friend’s, where people came from different parts of the world, just to offer their condolences and stay with the family to offer more support. The long funeral helped the family feel less alone, and it became a time for not just mourning, but celebrating the person’s life and the legacy they leave.”

CONTEXT: The tradition shared by F during a discussion about how cultures handle grief and funeral customs. F explained that in Cameroon funerals are major events that can last days, even weeks. These gatherings give everyone a chance to travel, attend and offer comfort to the family for long periods of time. F recalled a time when people traveled long distances just to be present for the family, showing how important it is for community support to be available during difficult moments like loss. The focus is on both honoring the dead and helping the grieving family.

ANALYSIS: This is both an example of a funeral custom, and a communal ritual that helps people deal with grief together. In Cameroonian culture, funerals aren’t rushed, and services are far from short. The extended mourning period allows the family and community to have more time so that no one feels left out or unsupported. The extended mourning period allows for further emotional healing, sharing memories and a display of respect for the deceased. It also shows how community bonds are both strong and unbreakable, since these traditions help keep those bonds alive, even during hard times.

Tears to Cheers…?

Age: 26

Story: “I know this isn’t a tradition or ritual that is unique to me, but it’s something that I’ve experienced a lot, and it’s always weirded me out. But how come after funerals, there’s always like a big party or dinner? Every funeral I’ve ever been to, like for both my grandparents, for my uncle, and for my parent’s friends, there has always been something like a dinner or celebration afterwards. And all the tears that were shed turned into laughter and reminiscing. I’ll be honest, it’s super sweet seeing everyone get together and share memories of those who passed, but I never understood why. I’m 26 now, so I think I grasp the sentiment and significance a little bit more of celebrating the life and memories of someone you lost. But to be completely honest, when I was in middle and high school, I was always like ‘I was just bawling my eyes out and now we have to go to this restaurant and everyone’s gonna drink?” I thought it was super weird, but I am starting to understand.”

Analysis: This reflection offers a real and honest glimpse into the cultural and folkloric significance of post-funeral gatherings, revealing how ritual serves both communal and emotional functions. This person’s evolving perspective reflects a common perspective in cultures where mourning is followed by celebration. These post-funeral meals act as informal, yet deeply meaningful rituals where storytelling, shared food, and collective memory help process loss and reaffirm social bonds. This person’s initial discomfort, particularly as a kid, highlights how rituals can feel dissonant when their symbolic meanings are not yet fully understood. Yet, their growing awareness at age 26 reflects how rituals often gain meaning over time, especially as individuals experience more loss and maturity. While hearing this story, I had realized that I had the same experience with funerals growing up, and I completely understand where this person is coming from. Post dinner/party funerals are really weird, but as I got older, they started to mean a lot to me. This story shows how ritual practices surrounding death are not just about mourning the absence of a person, but about sustaining their presence through living memory.

Muslim Tradition: Funerals

Nationality: American
Primary Language: English
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, California
Performance Date: 9 April 2024

Tags: Muslim, Islam, funeral, death, burial, graves

Text:

Muslim funerals can be compared to the solemn tradition seen in most modern Western funeral progressions, but with a few key differences. Guests wear all white attire instead of all black, and the body is also wrapped in a white sheet, after having been washed and prayers having been said. Coffins are apparently similar to sarcophaguses (for lack of a better comparison), and the dead are buried above ground because it is seen as very improper to walk over the dead. Gravestones are very clean and do not have much writing on them other than the dead’s name and lifetime, and it is not as common for people to go to graveyards to visit, as the view is that once a person is dead, they let them stay dead.

Context:

J is a student studying ANTH 333 in the University of Southern California. She regularly participates in Muslim traditions and cultural activities with her friends and family, which unfortunately includes some funerals in the past.

Analysis:

Small details in the difference between general Western funerals and Muslim funerals might seem insignificant in the long run, but they can reveal large differences in the cultural and traditional aspects of each region’s values and morals. It is through these differences that we can realize how alike we really are, unified under common instances that make each one of us different.

Sacrifice for Deceased Osage Children

Tags: Osage, Ozarks, Funeral Custom, Sacrifice

Text

For the Osage, whenever there’s a death of a child/baby, dogs will be used in ceremonial practices as a sacrifice.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: Indian

Age: 22

Occupation: College Student

Residence: Northwest Arkansas, USA

Date of Performance: March 2024

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Friend

Context

AH, the informant, is of Indian descent. Her father practices Hinduism and speaks Tulu. He has been a very influential figure in her upbringing. She also studies indigenous peoples and their customs as a Sustainability major.

Analysis

This act of sacrifice is meant to represent the similar innocence of little dogs and babies. It is also done as a means to give the child/baby companionship in the afterlife.

Fasting Period After Hindu Death

Tags: Hindu, Funeral Customs, Reincarnation, Fasting