Death Rituals

The Lakota:

In the Lakota culture, there is a very common saying that the parents tell to their children. "Be kind to your brother, for someday he will die.” (Huang, 2000). The Lakota tribe is the second biggest group of Native Americans in the United States today. Death is just a part of their everyday life. Anger is a minimal emotion when it comes to death for the Lakota, because they understand that is a part of life. When a person or even an animal pass away, they enter a neutral land known as “Wanagi Makoce” (Huang, 2000). They believe that going to heaven is not a matter of being nice throughout your life since the soul is believed to be existent before birth. Cremation is never an option when it comes to deciding what to do with the body. The Lakota bury their loved ones so to keep the spirit with the body to not be disturbed. “Wanagi Yuha” (Huang, 2000), is a religious gathering to give cheer one year after their loved one has passed and gone to the other side. This ceremony is a lot like a reception we would have in America. The friends and family get together and recall and reminisce on the memories that they have shared with the one they have lost. A long with this, they take the possessions of the deceased one and give them to those who have been apart or have helped the family the most in the last year of the loved ones life. Finally, they exchange gifts among each other to show their respect. These gifts usually range from tools to clothing or anything that might be beneficial to the loved ones family. The Lakota try be as virtuous as possible in the next year of their lives without their loved ones so that their true character may emerge.

Jewish Burial:

Jewish funeral customs are quite similar to that in the American culture as they are buried in plots in cemeteries as well. According to law, Jews are mandated to be buried in a plain pine box as to not complicate having to pick a coffin. When preparing the bodies to be buried, men will prepare men, as women will prepare women. They clean off the body with warm water from head to toe and make sure to never lay the body facing downwards. All bodies are buried in a white shroud, so that there is no distinguishing between the rich and the poor and it keeps it equal. Blood is considered to be holy life for the Jewish culture, so if one has been killed in an accident they do not clean off the body and preserve the blood with the body. Most Jewish funerals are short and usually nothing to extravagant. They are started off by the family tearing their clothes to signify their loss of their loved one. In some funerals, the Rabbi will tear the garments for them or tear a black ribbon to give to the family. Once the mourners leave the room, those who are attending the funeral are then allowed to sit down. Those attending then leave to mourn the family before the burial. Once the burial is complete, those who are not family members form two lines in which the mourning family passes through. While the family is passing through, the lines are reciting a form of condolence. Afterwards, the family sits in shiva or another name for mourning. They sit like this for up to 7 days. The time of shiva is a time for the family to grow closer and bond through their loss.