Not leaving the dead unattended is a custom followed by the Jewish people. Do you know: The person who stays to guard the body of the dead is known as a shomerim. The Jews consider leaving the body of a deceased person as disrespect. Hence, a person or persons must stay with the body. However, […]
The Nepalese have very unique and specific rituals involving death and the deceased. Do you know: When someone passes away in a family, the family is not allowed to use salt for three days. When a death occurs in the family, the family must buy or make shoes from any material other than leather. The
Reincarnation is a popular belief amongst the Hmong people who live in the parts of China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Do you know: The funerary rituals of the Hmong begin on Friday and last until Monday, when the dead is buried. During a funeral, the Hmong people play tunes with bamboo flutes, known as the
Placing text from Ancient Scriptures in the mouth of the deceased is a funerary custom in Thailand. Do you know: Family and relatives pour water over one hand of the deceased as the body is being bathed. Abhidharma are ancient 3rd-century Buddhist Scriptures that contain four syllables, namely ci (symbolizing heart), ce (symbolizing metal concepts),
The Qingming Festival is a Chinese tradition held to commemorate the dead. Do you know: The Chinese believed that people constructed kites, which are used for sending greetings to commemorate the dead. The 104th day after the winter solstice, usually the first week of April, is celebrated as the Qingming festival. On this day, it
Ngaben is a cremation ceremony practised in Bali, Indonesia. Do you know: In Indonesia, the social status of the deceased influences the time of the cremation ceremony’s performance. An expert decides the date for the Ngaben ceremony. On that day, the body is first placed in a coffin, which then goes into a sarcophagus. This
Death is considered a transition from one life to the next in Cambodian customs. Do you know: The teeth or parts of bone of the deceased are often worn as amulets on chains. When a person dies, in Cambodia the family of the deceased puts a white flag in front of their house. The flag
Placing food and money is the custom practised by the Vietnamese for their dead members. Do you know: The deceased is traditionally buried twice in Vietnam. After a person has died, his body is washed and dressed. A chopstick is placed in the deceased’s mouth with a little rice and three coins. Fake money is
Re-naming the deceased is a Vietnamese custom. Do you know: The Vietnamese believe it is unfortunate for the deceased to keep the same name as when he was alive. When a person is about to die in Vietnam, the members of family gather around him/her. The eldest child bends to hear his last words and
The Seijin no Hi is a ‘coming of age’ festival celebrated in Japan on the second Monday in January. Do you know: The age of attaining adulthood in Japan is 20 years. At the Seijin no Hi, the men and the women who have attained the age of 20 years, dress up in traditional attire
African dolls come in varying styles and designs, based on the tribe or group making it. Do you know: Apart from being toys, African dolls also serve the purpose of ensuring fertility. Depending on the tribe, the African doll’s style changes and so does its uses. For instance, Ndebele people make LingaKoba dolls in colourful
Shichi-go-san meaning 7-5-3 is a festival organized for 3 and 7-years-old-girls and 5-year-old boys in Japan. Do you know: This festival dates back to the Heian Period, between 794 and 1185 when nobility would celebrate the entering of children into middle school. The Shichi-go-san celebration is a day when parents along with their children, who
The Red Egg and Ginger Party is organized in China, when a pregnant woman completes one month of pregnancy. Do you know: The Chinese consider an egg a symbol of life changes and harmony while ginger is important to establish balance. The Moon-yut party or red egg and ginger party, is held by the proud
Kinaalda is a four-day coming of age ceremony for the girls who have reached puberty, celebrated by the Navajo tribe in North America. Do you know: The origin of this ceremony began with the myth of the changing woman who was said to be the first woman on the earth to have children. The Kinaalda
Quccija or ‘choosing’ is a unique tradition celebrated in the Republic of Malta on a child’s first birthday. Do you know: The locals believe that this custom helps predict a child’s future. For the child’s first birthday, various objects are laid out before him. The locals believe that the object the child touches would predict