8 Bizarre Funeral Rituals From Around the World

Famadihana

• The turning of the bones
• Where: the Malagasy people in Madagascar

Another bizarre funeral ritual is Famadihana, also known as ‘the turning of the bones’, and was practiced among the Malagasy people in Madagascar. This type of ceremony takes place every seven years and involves exhuming the bodies of their relatives, rewrapping them in new cloth with their names on it because this way they can be remembered.

Then they take the ritual to the next level and dance with the wrapped corpses over their heads, tell stories and spray with wine due to the powerful odor from decomposition. In other words, they celebrate the life lived by the deceased person.

According to a Malagasy man who talked for BBC, “it’s important because it’s our way of respecting the dead. It is also a chance for the whole family, from across the country, to come together.”

 

Fantasy coffins

• Buried in decorative coffins symbolizing the dead persons’ professions
• Where: Ghana

The people of Ghana are really creative when it comes to the dead’s coffin, so they prefer decorative caskets that represent the profession of the deceased. These interesting items are not only beautifully carved and colorful coffins, but they are also considered real works of art, being displayed in various exhibitions from around the world.

However, they practice this type of funeral ritual because they believe in the afterlife. They think that the deceased will live the same in the next world, so they should be prepared for that. Individuals also believe that they will influence young people to opt for important careers, such as doctors and lawyers.