Community Activities
Around the world death is celebrated in many ways. Probably the most famous is the Mexican ‘Día de Muertos’ or day of the dead as it is known. This colourful 3day celebration from 31st October – 2nd November which coincides with the Christian celebrations of Allhallowtide, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Those celebrating will dress up in many different types of costume but all will have their faces painted to represent the skull as a symbol of the festival and parades will take place during the day and night over this period.
As part of the celebrations in Mexico on October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta is filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations.
This celebration is also observed in many parts of South America and similar types are also found to happen in parts of Europe and Australia.
There are many other death celebrations around the world. Christians celebrate All Souls Day and many churches have special services to remember those who have died and they are remembered by the lighting of a candle. In Chinese culture ‘Zhongyuan’ festival is celebrated for a month with Bhuddists remembering their ancestors. ‘Chuseok’ is celebrated in both North and South Korea and ‘Gaijatra’ is a Hindu tradition celebrated in Nepal.
We believe death is still a taboo in the UK, but over the last few years there has been the starts of change. People seem more willing to discuss death in their normal environment and death and funerals can so often be seen in the news, television, social media and our favourite soap drama. One of the most common ways it is discussed is with funeral planning or pre-paid funerals with more people wishing to discuss this with us and plan ahead for the future giving peace of mind, a record of personal wishes and financial security against rising funeral costs.
Whether you want your service to be quiet and simple, traditional or completely unique to you we are able to make your funeral reflect your wishes, beliefs and create a special memory for the loved ones left. As a real family owned and managed business, we do not answer to outside shareholders or business partners, meaning we have full control of how we work, and how we can help achieve each individual persons funeral wish.
For more information on funeral planning please visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk or contact us 01202 882134 or by visiting one of our funeral homes.