Skip to main content
header search
ahihi OpenLearn
OpenLearn
Menu
sticky search
Author: Erica Seruset Borgstrom

Death around the world

Updated Friday, 3 November 2023

Although we all die, how we mark the end of a life varies between places and cultures. This article and associated animation explores different customs and traditions that people around the world perform in relation to death.

Find out more about The Open University's Health and Social Care courses and qualifications.

Rituals can be an incredibly important feature of what happens after someone dies. There are often specific rituals – rites, ceremonies, or practices – and actions that are performed to mark the death. Some are designed to help the departed in their transition between the humanly world and the afterlife. Some rituals can help reduce the anxiety or distress of the bereaved, giving them something to focus on and a way to connect with those around them. And whilst we may often think of rituals as being ‘traditionally’, many are constantly evolving and are shaped by shifting cultural values and technology.  

So, which country has professional mourners and where were funerals live-streamed before the practice became so popular during the Covid pandemic? You can find out more in this short cartoon, where Dr. Erica Borgstrom explores some of the different customs and traditions that people throughout the world perform in relation to the end of life.




PDF document Transcript 17.9 KB

Find out more

  • An introduction to death, dying and grief

    Explore interesting and challenging ideas around death, dying and grief. This free course, An introduction to death, dying and grief, invites you to think more deeply about death and dying and encourages you to think about it in different ways. This course will introduce you to different perspectives on death; ethical issues related to dying and...

    Learn more to access more details of An introduction to death, dying and grief
    An introduction to death, dying and grief

  • Death and medicine: postponement and promise

    This free course, Death and medicine: postponement and promise, helps you to explore the extent to which death and dying in western societies are medical events and what aspects of death and dying might be neglected as a consequence. The course covers the way that such things as medicine provide the context of the experiences associated with the...

    Learn more to access more details of Death and medicine: postponement and promise
    Death and medicine: postponement and promise

  • Beyond belief: talking to the dead

    Are paranormal experiences real? Can being 'spiritual' help with the way you feel about death, dying and grief? This film interactive delves into spiritual healing and your views on life after death...

    Take part now to access more details of Beyond belief: talking to the dead
    Beyond belief: talking to the dead
 

Become an OU student

Author

Ratings & Comments

Share this free course

Also in Centre for Open Thanatology Hub

Death and medicine: postponement and promise free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Death and medicine: postponement and promise

This free course, Death and medicine: postponement and promise, helps you to explore the extent to which death and dying in western societies are medical events and what aspects of death and dying might be neglected as a consequence. The course covers the way that such things as medicine provide the context of the experiences associated with the...

Free course
1 hr
What effect is social media having on the way we mourn global tragedies? article icon

Languages

What effect is social media having on the way we mourn global tragedies?

Is the outpouring of grief we see on social media after a terrorist attack or the death of a prominent figure a sincere expression of emotion, or more to do with self-promotion?

Article
10 mins
Nine top tips on talking about sex… for young people with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition video icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Nine top tips on talking about sex… for young people with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition

Let's talk about sex! Sarah Earle and Maddie Blackburn outline 9 ways you can find out more about sex, intimacy and relationships if you have a life-limiting or disabling condition.

Video
10 mins
Coronavirus: Dealing with Death, Dying and Grief article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Coronavirus: Dealing with Death, Dying and Grief

The coronavirus pandemic has lead to many people across the globe facing bereavement and grief. We've pulled together some FREE resources to offer advice or comfort in these times.

Article
15 mins
What should I expect when I am nearing the end of my life? article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

What should I expect when I am nearing the end of my life?

Death is part of life and is something we all need to face; not only our own death, but the deaths of those around us. Many of us are unprepared for this major event in our lives.

Article
5 mins
Walk the walk: encountering death and dying spaces in hospital activity icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Walk the walk: encountering death and dying spaces in hospital

For some staff in hospitals, dealing with serious injury and death may be a common occurrence. But it is often unchartered territory for family and friends when called in to visit someone they know. It can be a time of heightened emotions and confusion. 

Activity
15 mins
Early widowhood: navigating a way through grief article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Early widowhood: navigating a way through grief

You or someone else you know may be experiencing grief as a widow or widower and finding a way to cope through loss. In this article, Hazel Carter, who cared for her husband through motor neurone disease to the end of his life, describes her experience of grief and becoming a widow and about her thought-provoking insight into her journey from ...

Article
5 mins
The healing power of nature writing article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

The healing power of nature writing

Writing about the natural world and environment can work wonders for our wellbeing – this article explains how.

Article
5 mins
Finding your way after the death of a significant person article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Finding your way after the death of a significant person

Grief is personal, shaped by culture, identity and experience. Bereavement professional Remi Martin reflects on loss, resilience, and navigating life after losing a significant person, especially within racially minoritised communities.

Article
5 mins

Copyright information

Skip Rate and Review

Rate and Review

For further information, take a look at our frequently asked questions which may give you the support you need.

Have a question?

Share this video