Death is not the end
Fascinating funeral traditions
from around the globe
Trending stories
South Africa
Explore Zulu and Xhosa mourning and burial traditions, and the role of herbs, ancestors, apartheid and even sexual cleansing in South Africa.
New Zealand
Learn more about New Zealand’s Maori death myths and omens, as well as traditional spiritual practices and tapu present at Maori funerals.
Mexico
Joins us while we learn more about the origins, offerings, food, music and art of the Mexican the Day of the Dead, the DĂa de Muertos!
Brazil
From the Yanomami human soup and Wariâ cannibalism to Brazilian CandomblĂ© rites, we explore the origins and purpose of these death practices!
Australia
Discover Aboriginal death customs, including ‘sorry business’ and avoidance practices! Also check out modern Australian funeral customs.
Cuba
Join us while we visit Cuba, learn more about religious syncretism, SanterĂa practices and socialist funerals, including Fidel Castro’s!
Explore over 50 different funeral traditions
Funeral rites, burial traditions and death culture are as much about death as they are about life.
These ceremonies are full of symbolism, allow for the living to come to terms with their loss but also celebrate the life of the deceased.
Finding culturally appropriate ways to express grief is something most of us have to experience in our life. It is, thus, essential to be prepared for our own inevitable death or the loss of a loved one.
Myend thinks that we can learn a lot about ourselves by learning more about how various cultures around the world deal with the death of their loved ones, try to find positive meaning through their loss, as well as prepare for their own end. Read more about our mission here.
Overview of Culture stories
Argentina
Explore Argentina and learn about death folk saints and 19th century indigenous funeral rites, including human sacrifice and canoe burials
Australia
Discover Aboriginal death customs, including ‘sorry business’ and avoidance practices! Also check out modern Australian funeral customs.
Brazil
From the Yanomami human soup and Wariâ cannibalism to Brazilian CandomblĂ© rites, we explore the origins and purpose of these death practices!
Canada
Learn about fascinating death practices of the MĂ©tis and First Nation peoples of Canada such as tea dances, pit burials, mortuary totem poles.
China
Learn more about the Chinese Folk Religion and its effect on burial traditions, the importance of ancestors as well as the Terracotta Army.
Cuba
Join us while we visit Cuba, learn more about religious syncretism, SanterĂa practices and socialist funerals, including Fidel Castro’s!
Denmark
Did Vikings burn Longboats during funerals? We have the answer to this any many other questions about both Viking and Danish death practices!
Egypt – Ancient Beliefs & Rituals
Explore Ancient Egyptian rituals from the Book of the Dead and visit the mummies of Pharaohs at the Valley of the Kings and the Pyramids!
Egypt – Modern Death Practices
Find out about present-day Egypt’s City of a Thousand Minarets as well as the City of the Dead, and listen to the echoes of ancient rituals!
France
Explore the mysterious Catacombs of Paris and learn about the food traditions of Brittany, as well as the French Grim Reaper, L’Ankou!
Germany
Explore death beliefs in different German Eras: Paganism, Medieval folklore, World War II, and even modern corpse tourism and funeral cakes.
Ghana
Learn more about the Fantasy Coffins of Ghana, as well as funeral dressing etiquette and various rituals and beliefs of different tribes!
Greece
Learn about Ancient Greek funerals, the beliefs and rituals behind them, as well as how they relate to modern Greek customs and superstitions.
Greenland
Explore the Arctic vastness of Greenland and learn more about indigenous Inuit death beliefs, as well as the mysterious suicide clusters.
India
Explore the holy city of Varanasi, its cremation ghats and learn more about Hindu funerals and the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence in Mumbai.
Indonesia
The Indonesian archipelago is home to dozens of mortuary customs including, Balinese cremation, Javanese acceptance and even smoked mummies!
Indonesia – Tana Toraja
Tana Toraja is home to many fascinating death rituals: from animal sacrifices, cave and tree burials to exhumating and parading the dead!
Iran
Explore Iran and read about Persian funeral customs ranging from ancient Zoroastrian Towers of Silence to modern Shiite Muslim traditions!
Ireland
Visit ancient and medieval Ireland and learn about Celtic tumuli, human sacrifice, Samhain but also fairies of death and the art of lamenting!
Italy
From ancient Rome to medieval southern Italy, join us while we learn more about old death practices and modern Italian Catholic funerals.
Japan – Death Folklore & Doll Marriage
Japan has a rich tradition of folklore and spiritual beliefs around death. Read more about it as well as the rare ghost marriages using dolls!
Japan – Suicides & Shinto Funerals
Learn more about the history of suicide in Japan while traversing the Aokigahara Forest, Shinto shrines and even Okinawa’s own Blue Zone.
Madagascar
Visit Madagascar and learn why locals dance with their dead during Famadihana. And if that’s not enough, we also explore a pirate cemetery!
Mexico
Joins us while we learn more about the origins, offerings, food, music and art of the Mexican the Day of the Dead, the DĂa de Muertos!
Netherlands
Did you know about the ancient megalithic tombs Hunebedden? Or about euthanasia in the Netherlands? For these and much more, look no further!
New Zealand
Learn more about New Zealand’s Maori death myths and omens, as well as traditional spiritual practices and tapu present at Maori funerals.
Nigeria
Explore Nigeria, while investigating Igbo’s second burial, learning more about Islamic Hausa death rites and Yoruba notions of good death.
Oman
Join us while we explore Oman and Mu Ghayeb, a death custom of sorcery, denial and coping with grief that as a result raises the dead!
Papua New Guinea
Explore Papua New Guinea and its tribal death practices: From witch hunts to cannibalism-caused brain disease, get ready for a wild adventure!
Peru
Did the Inca sacrifice humans? How has the coronavirus changed Catholic funerals in Peru? In this post we answer these and more questions!
Philippines
Join us for our journey in Sagada, where we learn about the Hanging Coffins, and in Manilla where we spent a night in the North Cemetery!
Romania
Romania offers very alternative death customs, a Merry Cemetery and a Royal funeral for the King of Gypsies. Let’s explore them together!
Russia
Explore Russian Christianity, but also fascinating folk superstitions on death but also, Buddhism, including a monk that died mid-meditation!
Saudi Arabia
Explore Mecca, the tomb of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, and learn about the effect of Wahhabism on burials and royal funerals in Saudi Arabia.
South Africa
Explore Zulu and Xhosa mourning and burial traditions, and the role of herbs, ancestors, apartheid and even sexual cleansing in South Africa.
South Korea
South Korea has a rich history of Shamanism and Confucianism that defined its death rites, but did you know about its modern death industry?
South Sudan
What is a ghost marriage? And what is the cultural role of beer at funerals? Find out with our article on death practices in South Sudan!
Spain
Spain is home to many diverse regions and funeral practices, from Canarian mummies to death beliefs and superstitions of the Basque country.
Sudan
Visit the mysterious Nubian Pyramids and learn more about ancient Kush burial practices as well as modern Islamic funeral customs in Sudan!
Sweden
Explore the Shamanic death practices of the Sami people and learn more about modern Swedish funerals and their approaches towards death!
Thailand
Theravada Buddhism defines Thai death practices including funeral pyres and cremation volumes, but what role does Thai animism play in death?
Tibet
Explore Tibet and its Bon and Buddhist funeral customs, including celestial burials, and learn about their hierarchy of death practices.
Uganda
Ugandans follow a variety of funeral traditions: beliefs of good death, alternative forms of grief for suicides and even funerals for twins!
USA – Modern Funerals
Join us on our road trip through the US, while we learn about Jazz Funerals, outdoors cremation, drive-thru funerals and America’s Blue Zone!
USA – Native Americans
Learn more about Native American death practices, Hawaiian clean burials in hidden caves, and have a glimpse at a Early Settler’s funeral!
Wales
Explore the Welsh countryside and learn about 19th century death flower superstitions, omens and the fascinating profession of sin-eaters!