Funeral Homes Traditions from All Over the World
Funeral homes in Marietta, GA aren’t the only ones with meaningful traditions surrounding death and loss. There are lots of funeral homes all around the world that have their own unique traditions that have even more unique meaning for the local people.
While we may never get to experience them in person, it’s a good idea to learn about these traditions as they can inspire our funeral homes with creative and unique ways to honor our deceased and ease our grief.
Take, for example, what they do in Tibet. The ground in Tibet is too rough and filled with stones to bury bodies in the ground, so instead Tibetans lay out their deceased as offerings to the vultures that are native to that environment. Though this sounds grotesque, it is a normal part of life for Tibetans, and is a main part of their Buddhist beliefs as it is said that this practice makes it easier for the dead to move onto their next life. In Ghana, most people believe that life continues after death, and therefore funerals are happy occasions as opposed to sad ones. To embody this idea, the Ga people make fantasy coffins in creative shapes and vibrant colors. Each coffin is one of a kind, and usually represents the deceased in his or her own unique way.
South Koreans used their loved one’s cremated ashes in a creative ceremony that ends with a production of colorful beads that they then display in decorative dishes or glass containers. Though the beads can be almost any color, they are generally in the families of pink, blue, or black. This practice has become more popular in recent years as cemeteries are becoming over-crowded.
The Capsula Mundi is an eco-friendly burial container that uses cremains to fertilize and seed a new tree. The Latin name refers to a proverb that states, “transformations of our body between the mineral, vegetal and animal worlds: the three key elements of life on Earth.” Italians are embracing this new tradition as a way to remind everyone that death is not forever, as the death will breed new life in the form of a tree. Tokyo is one of the densest urban areas in the world, making it hard for the Japanese to find places to bury their dead. The Ruriden Columbarium is an advanced and very colorful solution to this problem. It has thousands of Buddha statues, all made from crystal in various colors and signifying a recently deceased. The ashes are interred in the columbarium for 33 years before being moved to a communal burial site beneath the temple, allowing people to grieve in the traditional way before making space for others to do the same.
Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help if you want to learn more about these inspiring funeral traditions, or about your options for Marietta, GA funeral homes and services. We have years of industry experience ready to put at your disposal in your time of loss. Please stop by and visit us in person or give us a call today to learn more.
