Cultural+Customs

=Navigation= Back to Culture Back to Home

Death does not always have to be about grief and loss. It can also be a time to remember and celebrate someone’s life. Many people have different ways with how they cope and express themselves over a death of a loved one. All these cultural beliefs and customs is just one of those coping mechanisms that come from death anxiety. It really doesn't matter which culture these beliefs come from because they all hold the same meaningful expression of grief and celebration over the lost of a loved one. ||
 * [[image:funeral.jpg width="366" height="247"]] || ** Introduction **

=Death Anxiety= Death anxiety is the apprehension, worry, fear related to death or dying (The Free Dictionary). It is just a term to label the negative psychological emotions that come from experiencing death of a loved one. It is a coping mechanism to deal with the uncertainty when it it comes to death (S.H. Wong). It is human nature to be afraid of death because no one knows what happens after death. Of course when someone you know passes away, you can start thinking about a lot of things. You think about who will be there to mourn over your death or how much more it will hurt when you lose more people you care about. Death makes appreciative towards the small and big blessings in your daily life. The negative connotation surround death is forgotten in these times.

** Bereavement ** Bereavement is the period of grief and mourning after a death (U.S. National Library of Medicine). The death of someone you love and care for is the greatest lost someone can experience. The mourning and grief is a healthy and normal process and holding back from feelings these things can restrain you from moving forward. Of course no one can completely move on from the lost of a loved one, but one must learn how to cope and come to peace with it.

** Death and Religion ** When the topic of religion comes up, the discussion of death is touched upon and vice versa. Reincarnation is the concept that after someone passes away, his or her spirit/soul can start a new life in a new body. Because some people believed that when someone dies, it isn't the end of the their life just the end of their existence in that particular body (see karma under header "Superstitions"). It is believed that forty-nine days is the amount of days it takes for a person's spirit to be reborn into another body. Within this time period family members must honor the deceased so the deceased can pass on. No matter what culture or background a person comes from, funerals are performed for an opportunity for people to say goodbye to their loved ones and also reflect on how they cope with the idea of death. Flowers and food offerings can be placed at the altar which are considered sacrifices to the deceased or a deity. Burning of incense represents ethics and morality and these offerings mean nothing if the person does not have right conduct. Chants are said by the monks and layman to help the deceased pass on to the other side peacefully. The sound of the bell being struck symbolizes protection from the heavens. It focuses everyone during the prayer to leave behind all of the past and present worries. Fake money can also be burned to represent the money the deceased will use in their afterlife. || || = =
 * ** Funeral Rites and Ceremonies **

** Superstitions ** A lot of the implications surrounding death are a result of death anxiety. There is an association of taboo surrounding the topic of death, like voodoo, spirits, karma, and reincarnation and this is just another way death anxiety is expressed (Sandra L. Lobra et al). The Law of Karma states that everything that happens in someone's life is a result from the happiness or the suffering the person has caused in the past. In other words, a negative action will come back to the person in return; a positive action will reflect back as well. The role of superstitions is a way for people to explain what they do not understand. These cross-cultural beliefs help people cope with their lost better. In some cultures, adults just raise their children with these beliefs because it was how they were raised by their parents as well. Even if it didn't make any scientific sense, children knew better to listen to adults' warning to not do certain things just because there was a negative association behind it.

** External Links ** Online Reading __Scholarly Article __

media type="youtube" key="aE0RZCA8Oc4" width="560" height="315" align="center"

**Podcast by Trace Dominguez: H ow Different Cultures Dealt with Death**

media type="youtube" key="QB1jTLTnfwQ" width="560" height="315" **Strange Superstitions ep. 3 - Superstitions Around Death**

** References ** [|//Online Readings in Psychology and Culture//] (Unit 14, Chapter 2), Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington USA.

Gire, J. T. (2002) How death imitates life: Cultural influences on conceptions of death and dying. W.J. Lonner, D. L. Dinnel, S. A. Hayes, & D. N. Sattler (Eds),

DNewsPlus. "How Different Cultures Dealt With Death." Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 9 July 2015. Web. 21 April 2016.

Chris Charles. "Strange Superstitions Ep 3 - Superstitions Around Death." Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 6 July 2015. Web. 21 April 2016.

Definition of Death Anxiety The Free Dictionary by Farlex Definition of Bereavement U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Lobra, Sandra L., JoAnne M. Youngblut, and Dorothy Brooten. "Cross-Cultural Beliefs, Ceremonies, And Rituals Surrounding Death Of A Loved One." //Pediatric// // Nursing // 32.1 (2006): 44-50. //Consumer Health Complete - EBSCOhost//. Web. 10 Feb. 2016. Wong, S. H. "Does Superstition Help? A Study Of The Role Of Superstitions And Death Beliefs On Death Anxiety Amongst Chinese Undergraduates In Hong  Kong." // Omega: Journal Of Death & Dying // 65.1 (2012): 55-70. //Professional// // Development Collection //. Web. 20 Feb. 2016. Tang, Ven. Thich Nguyen. "Buddhist View on Death and Rebirth." //Urban Dharma//. The Wordsworth Encyclopedia of World, 1999. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. Urban Dharma Lensi Photography. Funeral photography in Birmingham (funography).

** See Also ** Death Breathes in Culture Mortuary Rituals

** Navigation ** Back to Culture Back to Home