March 1, 2025
Burial Traditions and Customs Around the World
All of humanity has had ways of memorialising and honouring their dead, going back to the earliest human civilisations.
The traditions for doing so vary widely across cultures and countries. For most New Zealanders, the concept of a Tibetan sky burial is incredibly foreign – however, to some, placing someone into a casket and burying them is considered strange. Here, we take a look at some of the strange and wonderful burial traditions and modern practices around the world.
Dancing with the dead in Madagascar
The tradition known as Famadihana, or “dancing with the dead” involves Malagasy people opening the tombs of their dead and rewrapping their bodies in fabric, and dancing with them, before reinterring the body.
Malagasy people see this as a way to connect with and spend time with family, both living and deceased, and to show respect for their family’s ancestors. It happens every five to seven years.
This is a joyous occasion marked with music and is thought to help the spirit of the dead in their journey to the afterlife. Families will dress in their best and often travel long distances, however, the practice is becoming less common in modern years.
Turning ashes into beads in South Korea
South Korea is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, and with this comes challenges when finding land for burials. Today, over 80% of South Koreans choose cremation over burial. Families are coming up with creative ways to display the ashes of their loved ones and honour their memory in a beautiful way.
One of these methods becoming popular today is to turn the ashes into beads, which are then displayed in cases or bowls around the home. This is done by taking the ashes of the cremated and grinding them into a fine powder. This powder is then heated to a molten state, then solidified into crystals, which are then shaped into balls or beads, called Burial Beads. Burial Bead colours can range from black to hues of blue, green or pink and look similar to glass.
Welcoming the spirits of ancestors in Mexico
Day of the Dead, or (Día de los Muertos) is a tradition dating back over 3,000 years. In this celebration, families welcome the souls of their deceased relatives back for a short celebration with family, food and drink. It is thought that on this day, the boundaries between the spirit world and living disappear, allowing for spirits to visit their living family. The spirits are honoured guests, and families will leave out offerings to them at local graveyards or in their own homes.
The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in countries around the world where there are large Mexican populations. Public parades and street fairs are popular and over 2 million people attend the Mexico City Day of the Dead parade each year!
Returning bodies to nature in Tibet
In Tibet, it is common for bodies to be returned to nature through what is called a ‘sky burial’. This involves a ritual to prepare the body before it is taken to a mountainside and left for vultures. In a place where the ground is often frozen solid and where vultures are considered sacred, leaving the body of the deceased on an exposed mountainside to feed vultures allows Tibetans to dispose of the dead in a way that gives back to nature.
This practice is profoundly significant for cultural and spiritual reasons. Tibetans believe in reincarnation, and they believe that if the body of the deceased is consumed by vultures, then their soul can go peacefully into the next life. Tibetans will carry out the burial rituals with smiles and joy because they believe a positive atmosphere can help guide their dead to their next life.
At Robinson Memorials, we aim to help you create the perfect memorial in honour of your loved one. No matter your background or beliefs, we can craft a memorial that will serve as a joyous and timeless link between you and your loved one.
Talk to our friendly team today about our memorial options or browse our range of memorials here.
