The idea of burying a person in the ground after his or her death is quite common in many parts of the world. However, it is far from the only way cultures have gone about paying final respects to the departed. Though it is normal to put a person to rest in the land, there are burial traditions involving the sea and even the sky. Take a look at these interesting burial traditions and gain some perspective on the many ways people say goodbye.
Burial Traditions: Turning of the Bones
In Madagascar, the Malagasy people have a very specific way of taking care of the bodies of their loved ones after death. The tradition of Famadihana is called both the “turning of the bones” and the “dance with the dead,” with both names appropriately fitting the ceremony. Essentially, the custom involves opening the burial tombs of the departed once every few years. The goal is to rewrap the bodies so that they are as fresh as the day they were first buried. The families will also play music and do small dances with the bodies before reburial.
Though this might seem odd, there is a very practical purpose. The more the body moves, the more it decomposes. By doing this every few years, the Malagasy believe that they are speeding along their loved ones’ journeys into the next life.
Burial in the Sky
For people who believe in heaven, it is not so bizarre to associate death with the sky. However, this connection is typically made in relation to the soul. Still, there are those who conduct sky burials. While there’s no way to actually bury a body up in the clouds, the Buddhists of Tibet have created a ritual that allows a person to rejoin the firmament in body and soul. Upon a person’s death, his or her body is placed outdoors so it can be exposed to the elements.
The body, which is sometimes cut into smaller pieces, is meant to feed the birds, animals, and insects. As the creatures eat the remains and take off for other parts, they spread the essence of the individual through all aspects of the physical world. With the earthly shell gone, the soul of the deceased is free to move on to the next plane.
Burial at Sea
Burying a body at sea is another burial tradition that people are somewhat familiar with. Throughout history, sailors would be buried at sea so that the decomposing bodies wouldn’t create health problems for others on the boat. In fact, coastal communities throughout Europe often have old traditions involving the sea and burying the dead. A number of traditions involve placing bodies into makeshift boats and setting them adrift on the ocean, allowing the physical form to be returned to the endless ebb and flow of the water.
Cremation Transformation
For years, South Korea has dealt with a shortage of space to bury the dead. Since cremation has become the go-to solution for many, it makes sense that the service has seen some interesting transformations. Ash beads are a modern trend that has become popular throughout Korea. The process involves using a loved one’s ashes to make ornate beads. Instead of placing an urn on the shelf, this option allows the essence of the departed to truly shine through in the gorgeous glass items. The beads are available in an array of styles, colors, and sizes.
Burial Traditions
Since death has been an inevitability that people have been dealing with throughout history, it makes sense that there are countless burial traditions and customs centered on paying final respects. Though ground burials might seem normal today, it stands to reason a day will come when people look back on this custom as odd and archaic.