Burials have been one of the defining traits of what makes us human. It has been part of our evolution and we are the only specie that practices burying and celebrating the passing of a loved one. Though different cultures might manifest burial rites in different ways: they all have the same purpose of celebrating the life the dead has lived. Some of the differentways that the dead are lain on their final resting place are: cremation, mummification, tree burial, lake burial, resomation, cryonics and space burials among others.
Celebrating the memories of our loved ones who has passed away has always been one of the most special parts and most special events that family members and friends. This is the time that they relive all the good memories that are spent with your loved one who has passed away. This is the time where everyone comes together to pay their respects to the dead. And most often than not, family members and friends offer memorial gifts to the dead even if the dead does not receive them physically anymore.
One of the most interesting gift practices are from the Chinese culture – the Chinese, when burying their loved ones – as part of their tradition, they burn paper gifts while burying the dead. It is believed that when they burn these gifts that are in form of paper origami in the forms of the material gifts (like cars, houses, money, food) will transcend into heaven as material things that the dead can use in the afterlife. This is a tradition that has been done by the Chinese by millennia. There are also some traditions that are shared by multiple cultures: like dress codes and color restrictions when attending funerals. Or when visiting the burial site, most cultures would light candles and prayers.
Another interesting celebration of the passed on are in the culture and traditions of the Mexicans, when they celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This is one of the most festive, most colorful celebrations and fiestas in Mexico and this has garnered so much attention that this fiesta and tradition has been featured in box-office hits like “Coco” and “Book of Life”. The Mexicans believe in the afterlife divided into two worlds: the land of the remembered and the land of the forgotten. The former being a colorful and happy realm, and the latter being the opposite. This is why Mexicans traditionally put a lot of effort and they make certain that they remember their family members and friends that have passed on in order for their spirits to stay in the land of the remembered.
It is quite interesting that we are so interested in what happens in the afterlife. Some people believe that there is life after death, and some people do not. But whatever happens, all the people that we have touched in our lives will remember us and we will live through their memories forevermore. Let us make sure that we leave good memories for these people to reminisce.
