Good morning, everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z37oCs0lggg
In the above video is a New Orleans Jazz funeral. The ceremony includes walking the closed casket down the roads of local neighborhoods, singing, music, and sometimes dancing on the closed casket. Of course, there is an uproar about how dancing on the casket is disrespectful to the dead individual's memory and a certain amount of disagreement with the fact that the funeral is turned into a celebration for everyone in the neighborhood rather than a respectful ceremony between close friends and family.
Regardless, the Jazz funeral remains a distinct part of New Orleans culture.
I would like to know what you all think of this type of funeral.
Happy opinion sharing!
- Devon Di Pentima
I can see how some people might find this behavior offensive to the dead, but we fail to realize is that each region has their own way of remembering the deceased. I think that if more funerals were like this, people would remember the deceased for their good deeds and good life, instead of how the person died or any negative associations with the person.
ReplyDeleteIn Mexico, 'The Day of the Dead' is a way to remember all of our deceased relatives. There is a lot dedication in remembering the deceased with food, flowers, offerings, and art. You can view a glimpse here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sflcw7jEm_Y&feature=related
If there was a similar way of remembering the deceased in the United States, death would probably be embraced in a better light.