Some Of The Most Bizarre And Unusual Burial Traditions All Over The World
Death is a global phenomenon and something that is inevitable. People die for different reasons and in the most unexpected time. Moreover, different nationalities with different cultures have different perspectives about death and how they handle it. Religion, culture and traditions are also different and so are the burial practices.
Here are some of the most bizarre or you could say weird burial traditions that are actually practiced in some parts of the world:
- The Famadihana
The Malagasy or the people of Madagascar have somewhat a different kind of tradition in terms of treating the remains of their ancestors. This practice is known s the “turning of the bones” wherein the bodies of the ancestors are taken from the crypt and wrapped in cloth; then music is played and they will start to dance with the bones of the dead; and after the dance the dead is buried back to the grave. This is actually a way for the Malagasy people to commemorate their long-gone ancestors.
- The Tree Bound Burial
This is a burial tradition practice by most atheists where the deceased is tied on the bark of huge ancient trees located in the village of the dead loved one. The tying of the dead in the trees signify that their dead family member would forever remain in their hearts and every time people pass by the tree, it would remind them that death must be prepared for.
- The Towers of Silence
This practiced by the Zoroastrians because they believe that the human body is impure and that is should not be buried or cremated. Because of this belief, they built a tower on the edge of the city and they let the body rest on top of it for the vulture’s taking. And the bones that have been sun dried are collected and dissolved in lime.
- The Viking Ship Burial
Vikings are just like pirates and they spend most of their lives out in the sea until the day they die. They put their departed loved on a boat filled with gold and other riches hoping that other men would find the boat casket.
- The Tibetan Sky Burial
This is quite similar with what the Zoroastrians practice. Here, the dead body is left with milk and food to attract wild animals like vultures and other scavengers to consume the body and fly the remains into the heavens.
- The Pit Burial
This burial tradition is a common practice in Northwest Haida by the indigenous Americans in the Northwest Coast. Their dead are simply left in an open large pit behind the village. Wild animals were allowed to consume the remains of the dead person. But it was entirely different if one is a village chief, a shaman or a warrior. These high class people’s body is crushed and fit into a wooden box with the size of a regular luggage and then fitted to the top of a totem pole in front of the house of the tribe. These Totems are believed to be the guardians of the spirits while they journey going to the other world.
These are only some, and there are funeral services more weird burial traditions that are still practice until now. But we don’t have to worry because in this present time, getting funeral services is easy with the undertaker.co.nz. They will provide the family of the deceased with the complete funeral services they need. At the funeral services at Christchurch they provide all the necessary steps for the people.