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Death holds a significant place in many cultures, with the beliefs surrounding the afterlife sparking debates, conflicts, and pondering for centuries. One of the most renowned festivals that honors the deceased is Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, but numerous other fascinating death-related festivals take place around the globe.
While some cultures lean toward the more solemn ceremonies we associate with Western funerals, many prefer a livelier, more festive atmosphere. This is often true in belief systems that envision some form of life after death, whether that be a spiritual realm where the deceased watch over the living, reincarnation, or a reunion with ancestors and loved ones who have already passed.
The outcome is frequently a vibrant and exciting festival that honors the deceased through various traditions meant to express love, respect, and admiration. If you find yourself in any of the following locations during their death-related celebrations, expect a uniquely morbid experience.
So, where can you find the most fascinating death-related festivals around the world? Let’s take a look!
10. Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme, Las Nieves, Spain
Known as the Festival of Near Death Experiences, the Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme takes place in the small Spanish town of Las Nieves. Unlike many somber European festivals, this one is held during the height of summer—every year on July 29th!
In typical Spanish fiesta fashion, the celebration revolves around a procession led by an effigy of Santa Marta, the sister of Lazarus, who is famously known for returning from the dead. The crowd expresses gratitude to Santa Marta for surviving a near-death experience in the previous year.
How is this done? Participants dress in funeral attire and carry a coffin containing the 'survivor' of a recent near-death encounter. If you have escaped death in the last year, you too can lie in an open casket and be carried through the streets of Las Nieves by your family and friends.
It may sound macabre, but the festival also features lively gypsy dancing, music, and a feast of fresh local octopus. Though dedicated to a saint, the celebration is, in true Spanish style, a lively party.
9. Obon, Japan
Next, we journey to Japan for a death-related festival that honors the return of ancestral spirits. In Japanese culture, family and ancestral connections are highly valued, so it's no surprise that a festival exists for the time when ancestors' spirits are believed to return to the living. Known as Obon, or simply Bon, this tradition has echoes in other cultures around the world.
Held on the 15th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, Obon typically falls in mid-August. During this festival, lanterns are lit to guide the spirits back home, and offerings are made on household altars. Just like many remembrance traditions, Obon also involves visiting the graves of the departed more frequently.
When Obon comes to an end, the lanterns are released onto the water to lead the spirits of the departed back to their resting places. The image of these lanterns drifting across the water creates a hauntingly beautiful scene, one that feels as though it belongs in a movie.
8. Samhain, Celtic Origins—UK
To clarify, Samhain and Halloween are not the same, even though they share the same celebration date of October 31st. Samhain originates from pagan and Celtic traditions, prevalent in the UK before the spread of Christianity. It is still celebrated in parts of the UK, especially in Scotland, and marks the welcoming of the harvest and the onset of darker nights.
The practices surrounding Samhain have evolved significantly over time. Originally, Samhain marked the end of the harvest with a burning wheel symbolizing the sun, followed by cattle sacrifices and taking a piece of fire back to the family hearth. By the Middle Ages, this ritual had transformed into a more modern bonfire meant to protect against witches, with people carving turnips, which eventually evolved into the modern jack-o’-lantern.
Samhain is also believed to be the time when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. In the past, people would go door to door, singing songs to honor the dead, and in return, they were given cake. This tradition is the foundation for today’s trick-or-treating practice.
While Samhain and Halloween share similarities, Samhain is one of four fire festivals in pagan tradition. Its deep connection to the earth and the changing seasons aligns it more with Wiccan practices than with Christian traditions like All Hallows’ Eve.
7. Pchum Ben, Cambodia
Pchum Ben in Cambodia is one of the longest death-related festivals, spanning 15 days. This time is dedicated to honoring and paying respects to those who have passed away. Every day, no matter how busy life gets, devotees are encouraged to visit their local pagoda with offerings and food.
The final day usually falls on September 28th, when everyone comes together to remember and mourn those they have lost. Besides the Buddhist New Year, this is the most significant day in the Cambodian calendar.
6. Radonitsa, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Radonitsa is celebrated on the second Tuesday after Orthodox Easter and is a widely observed festival in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It is a day meant for remembering and honoring the deceased, focusing on celebrating their lives rather than mourning their loss.
During Radonitsa, relatives visit the graves of the departed, sharing a meal with them or leaving offerings like Easter eggs and sweets. In some cases, a candle is lit in their memory or a full traditional meal is prepared. The customs vary from region to region, but it is never considered a sorrowful event.
5. The Festival of the Hungry Ghost, China
Similar to Japan's Obon, the Hungry Ghost Festival takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Sharing meals with loved ones is an important tradition, and hospitality is a value deeply respected and celebrated across China.
The Hungry Ghost Festival revolves around food, hospitality, and avoiding the wrath of the spirits of the hungry dead. Ceremonies involve burning incense, presenting ancestral tablets, and preparing three full meals throughout the day. When night falls, a feast is set for the ancestral ghosts, surrounded by incense, tablets, and paintings. Afterward, the living may enjoy their own meal, leaving a place at the table for a departed loved one.
4. Tiwah, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
In most cultures, one burial service is sufficient, but for the Dayak Ngaju people of Central Kalimantan in Indonesia, a single burial is believed to bring disaster to the crops, leading to famine or even plague. This belief has led to the tradition of a second funeral, known as tiwah.
The tiwah festival is quite morbid, as it involves exhuming the body several months or even years after the original burial. The family then places the bones into a ceremonial chest or ossuary. The Dayak Ngaju people view this as a way to help guide their loved ones to the spirit world. Failure to perform this ritual is believed to bring misfortune to the living.
3. Thursday of the Dead, Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East
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Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Observed by both Muslims and Christians in the former Levant region, now known as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Thursday of the Dead is a significant festival that spans across religious practices.
Thursday of the Dead is believed to mark the day of the Last Supper, and unlike the similar Maundy Thursday, it is celebrated in the morning. It serves as a time to honor the departed while also helping those in need. It’s a tradition to give bread and sweets to children in need, ensuring the cycle of life continues. Because of this, it’s also referred to as the Day of Sweetness.
2. Totensonntag, Germany
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Returning to Europe, Totensonntag, observed in both Germany and Switzerland on the last Sunday before Advent (usually the final Sunday of November), is a much more somber event centered on death and remembrance.
In contrast to the festive parades of Dia de los Muertos, Totensonntag is a quiet day with noise restrictions across the country. This allows people to reflect and remember their loved ones. Many visit the graves of not only their families but also significant German or Lutheran figures and notable churches.
1. Gai Jatra, Nepal
Gai Jatra, celebrated in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, is a Hindu festival known as the 'Festival of the Cows'. This is because cows are regarded as sacred and are considered the Goddess of Wealth in Hinduism.
Every year in July or August, families dress their children as cows and send them out to take part in a lively parade of remembrance. This vibrant celebration is filled with music, dance, and colorful displays. It’s an uplifting and joyous occasion, focused on celebrating life rather than reflecting on death.
