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Native American Death Rituals [Seby & Jemi]

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Native American Death Rituals [Seby & Jemi]

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In Native American culture, each tribe has their own burial process. A few commonly known funeral practices include the tree or scaffold burial based on the Sioux death rituals, Chippewa mourning customs, Kiowa in-ground burial, Navajo purification ritual, Iroquois condolence ceremony and community death feast.

The Sioux tribe, also known as the Oceti Sakowin Nation, appreciate those who have died by resting their body on a structure placed on a tree for a whole year, before then being buried in the ground. The platform should be eight feet above the ground, and the person who had passed away would be treated as if they were still alive by surrounding the platform with the person’s belongings, food, and taking care of their clothing.

The Saulteaux tribe, also known as the Ojibwe Nation, or Chippewa, believe that a person’s spirit exits the body after burial, not when they die. This is why they would prefer the person to be immediately buried to ease the spirit’s path. A social meeting by indigenous communities (pow wow) is held around the dead person’s house the night after the burial. Fire is lit at the head of the grave for four nights. The deceased’s possessions are then handed out to each member of the tribe, who will offer a clothing item in return, and is then followed by honorary meals for the deceased’s relatives.

The Kiowa and Ponca tribe believe that their Creator birthed life from earth, so the only way to return a person’s life is by burying them in the ground, back where they first started life. With the fear of the spirit coming back because they were not buried in an ethical manner, other tribe members will then burn the dead person’s past possessions and urge the people who used to live with them to move away to a new house in order to avoid being haunted by the dead person’s spirit. The Navajo Nation values a similar belief, but the difference is, their idea of a proper burial is having two naked men covered with ashes to hold a purification ritual on the body. The body is then escorted northway by a horse, and their family would be the one to bury them along with the horse, which is killed to help the spirit move to the afterlife.

The Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee clan, has a social rule specifically to avenge those who have been killed. When a person is killed, the head of the person’s family is given the right to decide whether the killer is to be tortured or adopted into the tribe. In some cases, this happens between different tribes with the hidden purpose of a mourning war whilst planning a raid on another village. This tradition changed into condolence ceremonies to guarantee the peace between tribal chiefs by mourning as a whole clan, not only for the family. The Oneida Nation holds an annual feast every spring and fall to honor the dead.

Resources:

https://dying.lovetoknow.com/native-american-death-rituals

https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/blog/death-around-world-native-american-beliefs

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Traditional Navajo View on Death and Grieving

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In the US there are some specific things to do in terms of dining for examples how to use a napkin, when to start eating and even using the silverware.

- Using napkins can be different depending on the situation. In a restaurant people unfold the napkin from the table and put it on their lap. The waiter usually do this for customers but it's not inappropriate for customers to do  this on their own. But in a private dinner party, there is a host who needs to do everything first, then the others will follow. for example, the meal starts when the host puts his/her napkin first, this signals the others to do the same.

- how they start eating is also different. in a restaurant, they must wait until all meals have arrived. In a private party the host will pick up the fork and start eating. the others must not start eating until the host do this, unless the host insisted that they eat first

source: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/DiningEtiquetteGuide.htm

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Ukraine: Ancient Matrimonial Weddings

Over hundreds of years  the people of Western Ukraine living in the Carpathian Mountains has kept their matrimonial traditions. The bride will wear a traditional blouse as well as the most significant piece in her outfit which is the headpiece. While the bride is dressing up, close relatives will play music and sing as well. The women their marry young, as young as 16.

The bride and the bridesmaids will ride a horse to the church where the wedding ceremony will be placed. The future husband will wait for her near the church beside a tree which holds many meanings decorated with white and blue ribbons which symbolises happiness and prosperity. Later the tree will be placed outside of the newlyweds house.

The groom will later give the bride gifts and money to persuade her to open her veil. After that guests will be welcomed to a tent made for the ceremony, they will mark the event with food, prayers, and drinks.

Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWA-_f5qNbA&feature=share

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Taboos in Chopstick Usage (Aisha & Kahlaa) 

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Taboos in Chopstick Usage (Aisha & Kahlaa) 

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1. Chopsticks should not be vertically stuck on a bowl of rice (or on food in general) as it represents the incense-burning ritual that symbolizes feeding the dead
2. Falling chopsticks
If chopsticks accidentally fall to the ground, it is discorteous as it represents a disturbance of buried ancestors
3. Stirring food
Stirring, or choosing around food with a chopstick, is seen as taboo as it symbolizes 'grave-digging'
4. Placed unevenly
Putting chopsticks in an uneven length on the table is seen as a sign of misfortune

Source:
China Culture Tour

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【饮食文化知多少】 筷子篇 Things you might not know about chopsticks

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Simply composed of two carefully crafted sticks, chopsticks are seen as a great invention of ancient China. These unique eating tools were developed about 3000 to 5000 years ago but the exact date of their creation is unknown.

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Ancient Egyptian funerary and burials rituals (Jemi & Seby)

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Ancient Egyptian funerary and burials rituals (Jemi & Seby)

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The ancient Egyptians are very identical to its funerary practice in that they believed it was very necessary to keep their immortality after death (read; The afterlife).

They’ll be doing some rituals which include mummifying a body, casting magic spells (often known to have resulted as a curse), and burials with specific grave goods / any belongings that they believed to be needed for the soul’s afterlife and brings them to eternity.

Talking about the grave goods, often time, social status also play a key role to decide which goods will be put onto. Higher caste or usually called as ‘pharaoh’ will get more luxury goods than the others. Pharaoh itself is considered as the heads of state and the religious leaders of their people, they’re one of the important people to rule ancient Egypt and to lead the nation into prosperity. Therefore it is shown that the grave goods are depending on your role during your life. Higher roles / wealthy people will get to be buried with luxurious items if they’re able to afford it.

Not only luxurious items, but mummies are also buried with foods, water, wine, and weapons. Egyptian believes that the journey to the afterlife was long, and so they believed that they need consumption to help them on their travels. Weapons are also the important thing to be buried with the bodies, it is the way they believe weapons are the ones to protect them on the dangerous journey into the afterlife.

Just like the other funerary practices, there is also the step before they buried the coffin, a burial ritual. After they prepared the mummy, there would be an opening ceremony conducted by a priest who was the king’s successor. The priest would utter a spell and touch the mummy with a ceremonial blade in order to ensure that the mummy is ready to live on the other side, the afterlife. After many steps before burial rituals, the priest is going to move the body to the mortuary temples specifically the temples that were once designed to commemorate every pharaoh and the place where prayers were recited, as well as for use by the king’s cult afterward.

References:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/pharaohs/

https://web.archive.org/web/20061210190548/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/694/he1.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2016/may/01/pharoahs-tomb-ancient-egypt

https://www.ancient.eu/Egyptian_Burial/

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The Maori tribe, the indigineous polynesian people, of New Zealand uphold a ritual/tradition that revolves around the traditional tattooing of the skin. The process is special and different from the regular modern/western perceptions of tattoos, because the history of the tattoos in this tribe date back centuries. The Maori tribe call the process Ta Moko, and in the past the tattoos traditionally represented which Maori tribe an individual came from. Now, the Maori people use different traditional designs to show different meanings, such as prosperity, health, strength, fertility, and other positive affirmations. The designs are used as a way to express oneself, and sometimes to incorporate positive vows/wishes into their future. For example, one of the patterns is called pakati and represents a warrior status, promoting strength and courage.

Historically, the tattoos indicate status in a hierarchical society as well as sexual maturity, and ones rank within the society. Nearly everyone in ancient Polynesian society was tattooed. The process of tā moko was highly skilled, and tohunga tā moko (tattoo experts) were greatly respected.Now, it’s used more so as an indicator of one’s identity but is still considered as highly sacred as it was before.

The process itself differs from modern tattoos. Ta Moko is done traditionally in a manual way, and a comb-like tool is used to prick pigment onto the skin, and a small hammer-like tool is used to hit the comb-like tool (like a hammer and nail). Maori men tattoo their whole face, while women stick to the inner lips, chin and nostrils and is considered to be one of the most interesting forms of beauty in Maori culture.

Resources:
https://www.expeditionistmag.com/home/8-places-to-find-the-historical-art-of-tattoos-around-the-globe

https://teara.govt.nz/en/ta-moko-maori-tattooing#:~:text=The%20process%20of%20t%C4%81%20moko,fed%20using%20a%20special%20funnel.

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The evolution of Tatau & Ta Moko:  Pacific & Maori Tattooing

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In Japan, tattoos were considered illegal during the Meiji Era (1872-1912). The Japanese government believed that to appear as a civilized and sophisticated country, any kind of tattoos, even those with tribe origins, should be prohibited. Although tattoos were said to be deeply rooted in ancient Japanese culture, the styles or techniques that are commonly used in today's tattoos came from the Edo period (1603-1868) which was when the idea of tattoos were becoming more controversial. This was due to the fact that tattoos were being affiliated with criminal activities and famous crime gangs/mafia such as the Yakuza. So it’s around that time when tattoos were starting to be seen as a taboo.

It wasn't until 1948 that the ban placed on tattoos were eventually lifted, however, the stigma around the art form still remained till this day. Although the younger generation are definitely more accepting, the normalization of tattoos being associated with violence and criminal behavior has led to people with tattoos being legally forbidden from going to public facilities such as bathhouses, spa, gym, and many other places. So even if Japan is changing ever so slightly, people who have tattoos are still expected to cover up when in public.

Resources:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9F1BmiTS1I
2. https://sites.wp.odu.edu/bodylore/2018/02/28/inked-and-exiled-a-history-of-tattooing-in-japan/
3. https://itsyourjapan.com/tattoos-travel-japan/

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A Brief History of Japanese Tattoo Art - Why are tattoos taboo in Japan?

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Some families in rural India, both Hindus and Muslims, toss their babies off of the roof of a shrine,  caught in a bedsheet held about 30 feet below. The ritual dates back to 700 years, when infant mortality was high, there was not much knowledge on medicine, and families didn’t have many places to turn to to ask for help.

Legend has it that the ritual started when a saint advised people whose babies were dying to build a shrine and drop the infants from the roof, to show that they trust the almighty. When they did this, the babies were miraculously caught by a hammock-like sheet that appeared in midair.

From then, when people in the region pray for the birth of a healthy baby, they include to promise to toss the baby as an offering to the god who grants their prayers. Villagers believe that the ritual brings long life and good luck to the child, and make sure that it does no harm.

Resources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/world/what-in-the-world/for-babies-in-india-a-30-foot-plunge-for-good-luck.html

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One of the rituals that exist in Spain is El Colacho. El Colacho is a baby jumping festival in castrillo de Murcia, Spain. The festival occurs once a year (Mid June) on a sunday with a duration of one week. One of the factors of El colacho is to celebrate the catholic feast Corpus Christi.

El colacho first started in the year 1620s and has been going on ever since. It is said that some historians believe that the El colacho first started as a fertility ritual. ( El colacho receive concerns from the catholic church)

The process of the ritual works by placing babies under 1 year old ( usually a few weeks old) on a mattress at the street then men dressing in yellow and red traditional costume referring to devil jumps over the babies, as they hold castanets and horsehair whips.

The babies will then get sprinkled with rose petals and will  return to their parents. At the end of the celebration young girls and boys will also run around the streets as the devil chase them with whips and castanets.

They believe that by doing this the devil will prevent the babies from catching diseases and experiencing misfortune. They believe that it will also absorbs the sins of the babies.

Resources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/spain/el-colacho-baby-jumping-festival-murcia-spain/

https://www.insider.com/photos-el-colacho-400-year-old-spanish-baby-jumping-festival-2019-5#at-the-end-of-the-course-young-boys-and-girls-also-taunt-the-devils-until-they-chase-them-with-the-whips-and-castanets-9

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Baby-jumping festival in Spain - Lonely Planet travel video

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Funeral ceremonies are considered to be the heart of Torajan culture, as it surrounds their belief that death is not an abrupt, singular event; but rather a gradual, social process to Puya (afterlife).

The grand funeral is held days, weeks, even years until physical death of the body since families need to save up for expensive funeral expenses. Until then, relatives will refer their deceased loved ones to makula’ (a sick person) or to mama (who is asleep). Their bodies are placed in special rooms in family homes. Torajans believe their souls are still in the house and tend to the dead like the living -- brought food and drinks, taken care of, etc.

When the grand funeral happens, this is where the souls finally leave the world. Animal sacrifices are essential to the funeral. Water buffalos especially, as Torajans beliefs buffalos will help the deceased arrive quicker at Puya. The number and quality of buffalo depends on social and economic status: the richer and powerful a person is, more buffalos are slaughtered.

Every once in a year, a ritual called ma' nene, is where the bodies are taken out of their coffins and washed, cleaned, groomed and dressed in new clothes.

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Living with the dead in Indonesia - BBC News

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New Orleans Jazz Funeral - Haddiyya & Raisa

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New Orleans Jazz Funeral - Haddiyya & Raisa

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In New Orleans, it is common to host celebrations and parades during special occasions; Jazz funerals are hosted to celebrate life's beauty after death and celebrate the passing of a prominent community member within the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans jazz culture is heavily influenced by West African tradition; in west African culture, it is common to vocally express their sorrows in funerals and celebrate in a joyous affair.
Today, the ritual is a well-known way to celebrate the passing of a prominent community member within the New Orleans community.

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The US one of the countries who haven't legalized abortion and many still think it shouldn't be. The video discusses how abortion wasn't taboo until 1880 where abortion was illegal in most states.

Here I've linked 2 videos which shows the Pro-Choice' and Pro-Life' opinions on abortion:

http://bit.ly/MiddleGroundAbortion
http://bit.ly/MiddleGroundAbortion2

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Abortion is a taboo topic in Philippines' society due to the opposition from country's influential groups such as the Catholic church, and the government's unwillingness to make modern contraceptives easily accessible. Because of that, women in Philippines are forced to either birth their child, or take illegal abortion pills, either way, endangering the life of the woman's life.

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The Rise of Illegal and Unsafe Abortions in the Philippines

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As a sign of entry into manhood, boys of this tribe suffer thousands of razor-blade cuts to make their skin resemble a crocodile's.

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Suffering a Thousand Cuts | Taboo: Skin Deep

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Metatah is one of the religious ceremonies that must be done by the Balinese Hindus (Hindu Dharma) adherent. Metatah is a ceremony to smooth six upper teeth of teenager by using the tight-fisted.

The filing ceremony of the six teeth is a symbol of filing six human natures which are considered as enemy of human being. Those six enemies are: Kama (uncontrollable desire); loba (greed, always want to get more); krodha (unmanageable anger); mada (intoxication that brings dark thoughts); moha (confusion that lead to someone unable to finish tasks perfectly); matsarya (jealousy that caused hostility). Those Six natures that are enemies of human are called sad ripu.

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Female circumcision, in some part of the world, is a rite of passage, And for the community in eastern Uganda it's also a landmark between being a girl and a woman, which must be celebrated.

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0313 #10 Sabiny circumcisions, Rite of Passage

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In Benin, boys move toward manhood in a test of endurance by the sting of a whip

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Amazon Rainforest, Codajás - State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Amazon Rainforest, Codajás - State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Amazon Rainforest, Codajás - State of Amazonas, Brazil

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It is a test of manhood in the Amazon jungle by initiations with ants.

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Initiation With Ants | National Geographic

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Apache girls take part in ancient tests of strength, endurance and character that will make them women and prepare them for the trials of womanhood.

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Girl's Rite of Passage | National Geographic