About death and dying in my culture

“Definitely, in my family, we believe that death is not the end but a transition – it’s not a ‘goodbye’, it’s ‘see you later’.”

“I come from an urban area of Pakistan with north Indian decent. I have always enjoyed a strong Shia Islamic faith. These backgrounds have a significant impression on me. 

“It is important to mention that in Islam, death is seen as a transition of soul to next life. It is important for a Muslim to prepare with good deeds and in Shia Islam, presents of good deed including prayers are also sent to deceased’s soul. This also provides peace to grieving person.” 
 

“In Islam, one thing I wish people knew about death and dying is the profound sense of peace and acceptance it brings. Death is seen not as an end, but as a transition to the afterlife, where one is reunited with their Creator. 

“The rituals surrounding death such as the collective prayer (Janazah), the simple burial without extravagance, and the emphasis on community support for the grieving family reflect humility, unity, and a deep sense of compassion. 

“There is also a strong belief in continuously honouring the deceased through prayers and good deeds done on their behalf, which keeps their memory alive and strengthens the connection between this world and the next.”
 

“In Mexican culture, Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is an important annual ritual to honour the lives of many departed ancestors with happiness and love. The event, which has Catholic and Aztec roots, is a chance for families to remember their dead and place altars in their homes. They decorate tombs and attend huge street events, too.”

“My family strongly believe that grief is a shared experience. Where possible we make trips to spend time with each other and sometimes that means we sit and cry together, but it means we are there to comfort each other, celebrate the life of the person who passed and collectively lift some of the weight immediate family would carry.” 

“I'm used to going to funerals where there's a wake afterwards in the Irish and the Scottish tradition, where there's a big party and there's lots of booze. I think that's quite useful. It's useful because it's disinhibiting – it lets people express their feelings. The pleasure, the joy, the misery, the anger, whatever it is, shows a release, and especially if you come from a culture like mine.”

“In my culture – African Caribbean – we have the celebration of life and we encourage anyone to get up and say something how they feel and say something positive. It always involves the viewing of the body and then celebrations with a big party!”

“How I experience dying and grief in my life became somehow a connection with my ancestors. That really supports me in this, in the process of grieving and enabling me to support others. It's not in the sense of ethnicity or culture, but really remembering where we are coming from, that  we belong to something bigger than us – thousands of years of background.

“Somehow when I dive deep into my grief, there is a connection with my ancestors, in our shared blood that is running in our veins, coming from thousands of years back. Having that connection is giving me the power to be able to stand in that grief somehow.”
 

“Death and dying hold a significant place in Irish community life. Many people regularly check obituary pages - RIP.ie is essential daily reading, and funerals are widely attended—even for those only distantly known to the mourner. This reflects a strong social value around bereavement care. In rural Irish communities, in particular, death is not just a private affair but a communal event.”