Category: Funeral Rites and Rituals Around the World

Japanese Funeral Practices

Japan has a cremation rate of over 99%, the highest of any country in world. Some local governments even ban traditional burials. This was not always the case – before World War II, cremation was only practised by the very rich, but after the positives of cremation, including its efficiency and cleanliness, became recognised, cremation rates rose across the country. While many may think that cremation limits one’s options for a funeral service, Japan has taken the opportunity to create lavish and memorable services, so that Japan also has one of the highest average funeral costs in the world. A ... Read more

Unusual Funeral Services Create a Personalised Send off

For many mourners, long gone are the days of sombre dress and tear-filled handkerchiefs. Today many of the last requests of the dearly departed are becoming increasingly unusual as the traditional funeral rites are beginning to be seen as stuffy and not in line with how the deceased wishes to be remembered. In many cases, even the mourners themselves are getting dressed up – and not in formal attire, either. At one funeral, the deceased requested that all mourners dress as the Tracy family, characters from the old hit TV show Thunderbirds. Often the mourners don’t participate directly, but are ... Read more

China’s Profound Culture of Death

Ancient Chinese traditions that have existed since 1,556 B.C. inform a cultural thinking that the souls of the dead exist in another world, but that they can visit the Earth by resting in their graves. In a sense, a grave becomes a home away from their new home. This basic line of thinking has led the Chinese to develop a system of attitudes and customs towards burial and funerals that is both fascinating and has left a huge impression on their current culture. The Chinese Funeral Although economic conditions in China throughout the years have significantly changed their style of ... Read more

Unusual Korean Cremation Alternative Makes Ashes Beautiful

There are many ways to honour a passed loved one after the process of cremation. Some find immense comfort scattering ashes in a person’s favourite spot, or perhaps more commonly, by selecting a beautiful urn designed and decorated to honor the deceased. In South Korea however, a fascinating technique is transforming the remains themselves into a beautiful, decorative object rather than scattering the ashes in a final location. Ashes to Beads Specifically, the process uses a high amount of heat and pressure to melt ashes down into gem-like beads that are usually blue-green, pink, purple, or black in colour. One ... Read more

Funeral Rites of the South Pacific

Many of the islands of the Pacific have maintained a strong connection to their cultural religious beliefs, despite the historical influence of many Christian missions. In Papua New Guinea, when a death occurs, a medium is called in to determine the cause or to identify the sorcerer or witch who may have been involved. Rituals are performed to assist in releasing the spirit of the deceased, and spirits are encouraged to stay near the family.  Relatives express their sorrow through wailing, chopping off a finger, pulling out facial hair, shaving their heads or extracting their teeth. Though burial is common ... Read more

Funeral Rites From Around the World, Part Two.

The stars have fascinated mankind since the dawn of history, and many of the most ancient funeral rites take the movement of heavenly bodies into account. However it’s only very recently that it’s been possible for a person to find their final resting place among the stars. A company called Elysium Space and Celestis Inc. have begun offering a service where they will blast a “symbolic portion” of your loved ones ashes into space. Back here on Earth, inhabitants of New Orleans often have what is known as a “jazz funeral”, a raucous affair that combines elements of traditional religious ... Read more

Funeral Rites from Around the World, Part One.

According to archaeological evidence, funeral rites were one of the very first elements of human culture to emerge. Funeral rites can be found in every culture, both ancient and contemporary, although of course these rites differ considerably between different parts of the world and distinct spiritual/religious traditions. Sometimes even the funeral choices of people from our own culture can seem unusual. For those with a strong religious faith, a funeral service conducted according to their religious beliefs is an absolute essential, but growing numbers of people in the UK have no religious faith at all. They generally opt for a ... Read more

Body Donation Rising in Popularity

While many people continue to consider burial or cremation, others are looking into another option: body donation. In short, this is the act of donating your body to science as opposed to being buried or cremated. There is no denying that you will eventually come in contact with somebody who is interested in donating their body to science, however, they don’t know how to get started. This is much more difficult than just having their body dropped off at a local lab! The practice of body donation is highly regulated. Even though there are many advantages of body donation, it ... Read more

Neptune Memorial Reef: Deep Sea Diving for the Deceased

The Atlantis Reef sits approximately 5.2 km off the coast of the Florida Keys.  This man-made reef was originally created in 2007 as a safe-haven for marine life in the wake of so many marine reef habitats being destroyed thanks to human activity and large coastal storms, not to mention an attraction for divers and wildlife enthusiasts.  However, one of the reef’s more interesting aspects is the span created as an art installation, resembling the fabled lost city of Atlantis with its spiralling gates and stone guardian lions that is set to be a final resting place for those looking ... Read more

Balinese Funerals

Often referred to as one of the most spectacular and interesting Balinese ceremonies, the “Ngaben,” or cremation, is a religious rite of Hindu descent, although it’s quite a bit different to death ceremonies found in India.   In order for the deceased’s soul to move on to the afterlife and into the ancestral divine realm, a number of funerary rites and rituals must be carried out to rid the dead of all of their earthly impurities, and no expense is spared in a ceremony which involves the entire community.  Several stages within the funerary rites denote the purity of the dead.  ... Read more

Main Office: 01273 736469

Mobile: 07789 174453

We realise that arranging a funeral can be one of the most challenging things you will ever have to do for your loved one. Click here to find out why you should consider using our company.

Useful Links

Bereavement Advice Centre
Brighton & Hove Council Bereavement Services
Brighton & Hove Coroner
Brighton Registry Office
East Sussex Coroner
East Sussex Registry Office
National Find A Will Service
Privacy Policy

TESTIMONIALS

“Dear Phil, As a family, we are writing to thank you and all working alongside you, for your kindness, support, advice and the professional shown while arrange my mum, Rose's funeral. This was an extremely distressing time which was eased knowing you were taking care of mum and the appropriate arrangements. ”

View more testimonials

Brighton Funeral Directors is the trading name of Sussex Funeral Services Limited | Copyright 2017

Registered Business Address: Preston Park House, South Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 6SB Shop Address: 185 Portland Road, Hove, BN3 5QJ