The Conception of Death Through Fear

Abstract

In this article we will focus on explaining how different cultures or beliefs approach the idea of death, to say goodbye to the deceased through traditions, rituals and funeral practices.

Death is the crisis that has most influenced human beings in each stage of their life cycle. Since the beginning of humanity, man has tried to give it a meaning and an explanation, for what comes after it and for the unknown. that entails.All people understand that, when someone dies, a loss is experienced that triggers an emotional response, known as grief (Ruiz, 2017). During this period, various processes arise, such as the relocation of the deceased person, adaptation to situations in which the person is no longer present and the expression of pain, among others. However, the understanding and elaboration of this loss are strongly linked to the geographic location of the person (Ruiz, 2017). For example, in Western culture, the issue of death becomes more complicated, as it encourages the concept of clinging to and avoiding discussing it, thus making it difficult for grieving processes to develop in a healthy way (Guerri, 2021). In contrast, in other cultures, death occupies a prominent place, both in rituals and in daily life, being understood as an intrinsic part of existence and perfectly integrated into it. According to Guerri (2021), in these cultures, death is normalized and accepted.
Funerary rites reflect the essence of civilizations, traditions, philosophies of life and the connection with death. They also mark the farewell to loved ones, giving meaning to their death. This article explores some of the transition ceremonies between two distinctive and exciting realities that take place in various regions of the world.