How different countries celebrate their dead

From vibrant processions to solemn ceremonies, cultures around the world have developed unique ways to celebrate and remember their loved ones who have passed on.  As we embark on a journey across continents and traditions, let us unravel the diverse tapestry of festivities honoring the departed, where grief finds solace in the embrace of vibrant customs and timeless connections. What better place to start than our very own city, Vellore !!

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• Mayana Kollai

The Graveyard Festival This is a festival that is celebrated after Shivaratri on the first full moon day of February in India, predominantly in the state of Tamil Nadu. The name of the festival literally translates to the “pillaging of the graveyard” and revelers flock to the graveyards in droves, often intoxicated and singing the tales of the reigning goddess, Angalamman. Devotees dress up in costumes of the goddess and sacrifice lambs, roosters, and chickens in the name of the goddess and often march in a procession to the graveyards with the entrails of the animals around their necks. The origin of this festival is believed to be a form of ancestral rites but at present, it is a celebration of life - albeit in a slightly bloody way.

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• Latvia’s Cemetery Festival

Latvia is a poster-kid for the display of the beauty of Europe and with good reason - it is one of the most beautiful countries with a perfect blend of wilderness and modernity. One ritual that is of great importance is the Cemetery Festival which is, paradoxically, less about mourning and more about life and togetherness. The festival is simply called Kapusvētki which is a compound word made up of kapi meaning ”cemetery” and svētki meaning ”festival”. Latvian cemeteries are beautifully landscaped and designed to enable people to spend time peacefully with their loved ones. While each person interprets the Cemetery Festival its own meaning, fundamentally, it gives reason to come together from near and far and maintain family ties. Latvian cemeteries are an integral part of their culture and have been fully integrated into the community in the form of parks, gardens, or just quiet reflection spots. The existence of these places is the saving grace for many species of microorganisms, flora, and fauna due to their lack of frequent use.

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• Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a beloved festival of Latin Americans and is widely celebrated in Mexico over the first and second of November. With origins about 3,000 years ago, this celebrates the people who have passed on and welcomes them to come back to the human world from the spiritual realms. Latinos believe that life and death is a continuous cycle and therefore the lives of their ancestors should be celebrated. The most visually apparent symbols of this festival are the marigolds, called cempazúchitl, which are believed to guide the spirits home with their bright colour and distinct scent, and the monarch butterflies, which are believed to represent the souls of the departed coming back to the land of the living. Xoloitzcuintli (Xolo for short), formerly called the Mexican Hairless Dog is one of the most important animals that visually represent the festival. This ancient breed gets its name from the Aztec language, from “Xolotl,” the name for the god of lightning, and “itzcuintli,” which means “dog.” These dogs are believed to act as spirit guides to the land of the living. Xolos are one of the pre-Columbian dogs. Scientists believe that Xolos came to the Americas from Siberia by crossing the Bering land bridge. Mexicans are fiercely protective of their natural heritage along with the memories of their ancestors. These traditions associated with the celebration and their cultural significance are an important way for families to remember their ancestors and pass on their stories.