RE: Anxiety/Depression/Mental Illness Support
June 9, 2012 at 7:18 am
(This post was last modified: June 9, 2012 at 7:48 am by Angrboda.)
"One frequent characteristic of more complex death rituals is the practice of double-funerals. The first set of rituals is organised immediately after death, it is concerned with the fact that the dead body is dangerous, and in practice it generally concludes with a first burial. The second part, which may occur months or years later, is supposed to turn the deceased body into a more stable, proper, less dangerous entity. In many places this is the point at which people disinter the dead, wipe the bones clear of any remaining flesh and put them in their final resting place. The Berawan in the Philippines have such double rituals described by anthropologist Peter Metcalf. After death, the corpse is exposed on a specially constructed seat in front of the house, so all close and distant kin can come over and inspect it or touch it. During this period the rest of the community are supposed to gather every night, sing and dance and generally make as much noise as possible. People frequently talk to the corpse, asking why he or she ‘chose’ to leave, offering the corpse a cigarette or some food."
— Pascal Boyer, Religion Explained, pp. 208-09
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