Death by Culture

Here’s how death is looked at outside of your country.
To help you improve your relationship with death.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States of America

Death is seen as a transition to eternal life, influenced by diverse religious beliefs, primarily Christianity, focusing on the afterlife and legacy.

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Japanโ€‹

Death is viewed through Shinto and Buddhist traditions, focusing on ancestor worship and the cycle of rebirth (samsara), with elaborate rituals.

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ European Union

Varied views on death, often a mix of religious and secular perspectives, with rituals emphasizing remembrance.

๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Russia

Orthodox Christianity views death as a passage to eternal life, with rituals and prayers aiding the soulโ€™s journey to the afterlife.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ India

Hinduism views death as part of the rebirth cycle (samsara), with karma influencing future lives and rituals ensuring a favorable rebirth.

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China

Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist traditions view death as a transition, with ancestor worship and rituals ensuring well-being in the afterlife.

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Saudi Arabia

Islam views death as a transition to the afterlife, with the soul judged by Allah and funerals emphasizing simplicity and humility.

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ต Nepal

Hindu and Buddhist traditions see death as part of samsara, with rituals ensuring a favorable rebirth or liberation (moksha).

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ Mexico

Indigenous and Catholic beliefs here, celebrating the Day of the Dead (Dรญa de los Muertos), and honoring ancestors and the soulโ€™s journey.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia

Aboriginal beliefs view death as a transition to the Dreamtime, where the spirit returns to the ancestral world, emphasizing the continuation of life and connection to the land.

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom

Death is viewed through Christian traditions, focusing on the afterlife and resurrection, with funerals often incorporating prayers, hymns, and eulogies.

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท Brazil

Catholic and Spiritist beliefs see death as a transition to the afterlife or the spirit world, with rituals including prayers, masses, and offerings to honor the deceased.

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌ Egypt

Ancient Egyptian beliefs saw death as a journey to the afterlife, with the soul judged by Osiris, emphasizing the importance of living a righteous life to ensure a favorable judgment.

๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa

Traditional African beliefs see death as a transition to becoming an ancestor, with rituals to honor the deceased and ensure their guidance and protection for the living.

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France

Catholic traditions view death as a passage to eternal life with God, with funeral masses and prayers for the deceasedโ€™s soul emphasizing the hope of resurrection.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany

Lutheran beliefs view death as a return to God, focusing on the resurrection and eternal life, with funerals often incorporating hymns, prayers, and Bible readings.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy

Catholic beliefs view death as a transition to eternal life, with rituals including funeral masses, prayers, and the rosary to ensure the soulโ€™s peaceful journey to heaven.

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain

Catholic traditions see death as a passage to eternal life, with rituals such as the requiem mass and the rosary emphasizing the resurrection and salvation of the soul.

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece

Orthodox Christianity views death as a transition to eternal life with God, with rituals including prayers, hymns, and memorial services on specific days following death.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท Iran

Shia Islam views death as a transition to the afterlife where the soul is judged by Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to ensure a peaceful journey.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ถ Iraq

Shia Islam sees death as a passage to the afterlife where the soul is judged, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to honor the deceased and ensure their peaceful transition.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Israel

Judaism views death as a return to God, with rituals including washing the body (taharah), shrouding (tachrichim), and burial as soon as possible, along with mourning practices like sitting shiva.

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ธ Palestine

Islam views death as a return to Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers for the deceased, emphasizing a swift burial to honor the soul and religious practices.

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey

Islam views death as a transition to the afterlife where the soul is judged by Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and communal prayers to ensure a peaceful journey.

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ด Jordan

Islam views death as a transition to the afterlife where the soul is judged by Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to honor the deceased and ensure their peaceful transition.

๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง Lebanon

Christianity sees death as a passage to eternal life, with rituals including prayers, hymns, and Bible readings, focusing on the hope of resurrection and eternal peace.

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡พ Syria

Islam views death as a return to Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to ensure a peaceful transition to the afterlife and the judgment of the soul.

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea

Christianity views death as a return to God, with rituals including prayers, hymns, and Bible readings, focusing on the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam

Buddhism views death as a transition to the next life, with rituals including chanting, offerings, and prayers to guide the soul to a favorable rebirth.

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ Thailand

Buddhism views death as part of the cycle of rebirth, with rituals including chanting, offerings, and merit-making activities to assist the deceased in their journey to the next life.

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ Philippines

Catholicism views death as a passage to eternal life, with rituals including prayers, masses, and novenas to ensure the peaceful transition of the soul.

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

Islam views death as a return to Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers for the deceased, emphasizing a swift burial to honor the soul.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia

Islam views death as a transition to the afterlife where the soul is judged, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to ensure a peaceful journey to the eternal world.

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ Pakistan

Islam views death as a return to Allah, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to ensure a peaceful transition and judgment by Allah.

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉ Bangladesh

Islam views death as a passage to the afterlife where the soul is judged, with rituals including washing, shrouding, and prayers to ensure a peaceful journey to the eternal world.

๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Sri Lanka

Buddhism views death as part of the cycle of rebirth, with rituals including chanting, offerings, and merit-making activities to assist the deceased in their journey to the next life.

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฒ Myanmar

Buddhism views death as a transition to the next life, with rituals including chanting, offerings, and merit-making activities to guide the soul to a favorable rebirth.