The concept of death is, perhaps, the most recognized idea globally. It is a natural phenomenon that marks the end of life. Many cultures around the world have inculcated the concept into rites of passage, given that it represents an individual’s return to the origin, which is thought to precede psychological and social rebirth (Uberman, 2018). Therefore, symbolic death is often represented by stillness, silence, or darkness. The loss of life is often commemorated among individuals with common religious or cultural bonds through rituals. These intricate activities serve to legitimize grief and provide an avenue in which death is appreciated, and its finality accepted. Rituals provide a safe space for affected individuals to express their emotions and preserve the bond that links family and friends to the deceased. A culture’s rituals in death demonstrate the phenomenon’s relevance in the collective psyche of the community by virtue of the fact that it permeates various aspects of life.
The Representation of Death
The portrayal of death across various cultures highlights its relevance to people’s daily activities. In Medieval times, death came in the form of a woman with bat wings and a hawk’s claws (Uberman, 2018). These images are common and known to all the people in a specific context. Other images that are linked to the phenomenon include a skeleton wrapped in velvet, a skeleton rider holding a sword, a dying candle, and ruins (Uberman, 2018). The imagery of death is influenced by people’s cultural and religious beliefs. The mystery surrounding death has given rise to a number of superstitious beliefs. For instance, certain insects and birds, such as crows, are considered to be death omens (Uberman, 2018). Various representations of death are based on cultural perspectives and practices that are defined by the activities of common people.
Cultural Context
Social and psychological factors that define daily living impact an individual’s response to death. For instance, the gravity of specific family relationships may vary in different cultures (Smid et al., 2018). The loss of an only son in a patriarchal culture is likely to have devastating effects on the parents. In addition, bereaved individuals are likely affected by expectations such as inheritance and marriage after the loss of a loved one. It is also worth noting that roadside memorials in Western culture serve as effective ways of memorializing individuals who lose their lives in roadside accidents (Dickinson, 2016). The practice is believed to have been influenced by Catholicism and Hispanic customs (Dickinson, 2016). All the aforementioned practices demonstrate the degree to which death impacts daily life.
There variation in the manner in which different cultures conceptualize death is the result of the different ways it affects their view of life. A majority of communities view death as a transition to the afterlife. Others implement measures to ensure continued interactions with the dead, while some cultures view it as a never-ending process that involves rebirth. Regardless of the conception promoted by various traditions, there is an understanding of its importance in defining various aspects of people’s lives.
The concept of death in Western cultures has impacted the people’s way of living through the centuries. Until the eighteenth century, there was no distinct separation between life and death, given the fact that it was considered a domestic matter. Therefore, a good death meant transitioning into the next life in the company of family and friends, a brief ceremony, and a burial in the church’s cemetery. However, the decline in the social relevance of death was demonstrated in the explosion of the bourgeois and enlightenment revolution in the nineteenth century. The resultant advancement of rational thought, which advocated for the secularization of everyday life meant that the loss of life in hospitals became the new tradition as the dead were separated from the living. Cremation became common in view if the fact that it highlighted a final form of disposition (Dickinson, 2016). The Western world is preoccupied with removing the burden of mortality from social discourse. The practices that characterized the transition to the afterlife gradually faded, and society focused on living.
The structured ways of expressing sorrow in death-associated rituals in many non-Western societies is a reflection of its impact on the people’s lives. The activities often involve defined time frames for mourning as well as specific deeds to be completed at defined points, such as wakes and annual commemorations. In addition, they outline the exact procedures to be followed when handling the dead person’s remains and the appropriate manner in which people should talk about the dead (Smid et al., 2018). It is often the case that individuals encounter the dead in dreams or report witnessing their presence. The specificity of mourning rituals means that failure to perform them may precipitate guilt. Some of the practices are thought to have significant implications in the afterlife. Accurate and proper engagement in death-associated rituals is required for role fulfillment and for the appeasement of spirits (Smid et al., 2018). The comprehensive assessment of numerous death-linked rituals in different cultures is essential to contextualize humanity’s understanding of the place of death in life.
Ritual Practices in Different Cultures: Latino Culture
The distinct rituals associated with the celebration of death in the Latino culture demonstrate how Catholicism’s view of the phenomenon defines the people’s lives. According to Hidalgo et al. (2021), Latinos prefer that death occurs at home in the presence of family and friends. The women are often tasked with caring for the dying, and the formal mourning process is characterized by an open casket and the recitation of the rosary. It is considered a sign of respect to wear black during group prayers that are conducted before the funeral. It is often the case that a funeral mass will be held at the local church, after which there will be a procession to the grave, which is usually blessed by a priest (Hidalgo et al., 2021). Other rituals practiced by the community include nine days of novenas, a prayer for the deceased individual on their birthday and one year after their demise, and the lighting of candles (Hidalgo et al., 2021). The Catholic belief that death is a transition to heaven informs the rituals as well as the people’s lives as they commemorate the loss of a loved one.
African Americans
The belief in the afterlife, which informs African American conceptions of death, also dictates how the people live their lives. Death is conceptualized as a process in which one transitions to the spirit world. The ease with which a deceased soul will make the journey depends on the degree to which the living chant, sing, and pray. In the United States, the African American wake is an event for the comfort and support of the bereaved (Hidalgo et al., 2021). The ceremony often features an open casket, and the preparation of food is considered an important sign of respect. It is customary to bring a home-cooked meal to the wake and the formal meal at the conclusion of the funeral service. The community members unite during the final send-off as a sign of respect for the dead.
Ancestral practices surrounding death influence contemporary African American conceptions of community. West African traditions are still prevalent in Black communities that have incorporated jazz and other musical performances in their rituals (Hidalgo et al., 2021). Congolese slaves in Louisiana expressed grief by wailing and weeping before transitioning into gleeful song and dance as they accompanied the dead to the burial site (Hidalgo et al., 2021). The practice was intended to escort the soul into its new home. Elaborate funerals are an indication of the importance of the dead and their ability to influence the living in African American culture.
Jamaica
The impact of death on daily life is demonstrated by the variation in practices associated with the loss of life in Jamaica. A community’s religion, socio-economic status, and residence will determine the rituals surrounding the loss of a loved one. It is vital to note that prior to the introduction of mortuary services, the deceased individual would be kept at home for three days as the people prepared for the burial (Hidalgo et al., 2021). The corpse’s deterioration would be slowed using ice, cotton would be used to plug nostrils, and a weight would be placed on the abdomen to avoid swelling (Hidalgo et al., 2021). A well-attended funeral is indicative of a well-lived life. It is vital to note that funerals typically involve plush coffins and expensive clothing, which are indicators of high social standing. In Jamaica, death symbolizes the end of the physical form and the beginning of the soul’s journey to rejoin the Supreme Creator (Hidalgo et al., 2021). The belief that dead souls are capable of haunting the living influences the maner in which Jamaicans live their lives.
Muslims in Central Anatolia
There is an inimitable connection between live and death in Islam. In the event a relative dies at home, their clothes are removed, their chin and feet are tied, their eyes are closed, and their body is covered with a white sheet (Zorlu et al., 2022). The closure of the eyes is practiced to prevent another death in the household. A knife is placed on the dead person’s abdomen to avoid swelling, and their arms and legs are straightened parallel to their bodies. The body is then washed with warm water and soap, after which a fragrant resin is sprinkled on the deceased. The period of bereavement varies depending on the dead individual’s age and closeness to the bereaved. The average period is typically 40 days, and all other joyful activities, such as wedding ceremonies are avoided during that time (Zorlu et al., 2022). In essence, the loss of life defines the community’s activities.
The effects of death on the living are demonstrated in the rituals that follow the loss of a relative. For instance, the affected family engages in charity on behalf of the deceased person. Their clothes and shoes are often given to the needy and food are provided to those who come to condole with their relatives. In addition, alms are given to reduce the dead person’s debts, and specific sections of the Qur’an are recited on the third, seventh, and fortieth days of their death (Zorlu et al., 2022). The people believe that the rewards for the acts of charity will reach the dead person’s soul as they continue living in the afterlife.
The Acehnese People of Indonesia
The belief that the bereaved family will receive blessings informs the Acehnese people’s practices in the commemoration of death and celebration of life. The activities are designed to release the dead person’s soul from the home, thus relieving the affected people’s grief (Manan & Arifin, 2019). Immediately following the death of a relative, people would gather in their homes to rejoice. This practice was common before the introduction of Islam in the region. Islamic practices replaced games with prayer, and the alcohol that was typically served in such meetings was replaced with syrup or water (Manan & Arifin, 2019). The people’s practices are, therefore, a blend of Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The rituals that defined the demise of a family member are a means of promoting brotherhood and forging strong relationships in the community.
Conclusion
A culture’s link to death is seen in practices that highlight the phenomenon’s relevance in the collective psyche of communities bound by the realization and acceptance of its finality and impact on the living. Even though different cultures have diverse practices aimed at commemorating death, the belief in its capacity to influence life is common across all people. The loss of a loved one serves as an opportunity for individuals to reconnect with the people with whom they share cultural or religious beliefs. The most important role death plays in society is to serve as a reminder that community and togetherness are important aspects of life. The bonds formed in life transcend death and bring comfort to those left behind.
References
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Hidalgo, I., Brooten, D., Youngblut, J. A. M., Roche, R., Li, J., & Hinds, A. M. (2021). Practices following the death of a loved one reported by adults from 14 countries or cultural/ethnic groups. Nursing Open, 8(1), 453-462. Web.
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Smid, G. E., Groen, S., de la Rie, S. M., Kooper, S., & Boelen, P. A. (2018). Toward cultural assessment of grief and grief-related psychopathology. Psychiatric Services, 69(10), 1050–1052. Web.
Uberman, A. (2018). Frame analysis of the concept of death across cultures. Lege Artis, 3(1), 417–447. Web.
Zorlu, S., Memis, A., & Yumusak, M. (2022). Religious and cultural practices of Muslims living in central Anatolia on death and mourning: A qualitative study from Turkey. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(6), 4934–4958. Web.