What the culture of dying means to me

“The culture of death and dying is a common ground for humanity. I guess it's a common ground for all of us in the world, it doesn't matter the background, the culture, the experiences that we had, our gender, or our past. So it brings us in the same space, the basics of life."

“To me the culture of death and dying means remembering loved ones: keeping memories alive. In Poland we have a strong tradition of honouring those who have passed away. 

“For example, we have Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints' Day) when families gather at cemeteries to light candles and pray. Most people in Poland are Roman Catholic and faith plays a central role in day to day life, especially around navigating death and loss.”

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

“The culture of death and dying to me are times for us to reflect. Though the moments are full of immense grief, the experiences can also bring about moments of joy in the processes of reconnecting with family, or reflecting on our own memories.”

“Having grown up in an Irish Catholic community, I find it difficult to pinpoint just one thing that defines our culture of death and dying. It is a complex and deeply ingrained part of life, shaped by faith, tradition, and social customs.

“In the Irish Catholic faith, suffering is often seen as something that brings us closer to God. There is a belief that God does not give us more than we are strong enough to bear. While this can offer comfort, it can also lead to existential struggles, particularly when dying does on a long time or when witnessing the suffering of others, whether in illness, dying, or in the context of war or injustice."

“What does the culture of dying mean to me? Remembrance, dignity, and what you meant whilst you were here. And who is it going to affect when you do die?”

“Growing up in a British Asian Muslim family, for me the concept of death and dying is deeply intertwined with faith, spirituality, and the belief in the afterlife. Islam views death not as an end, but as a transition from one phase of existence to another. 

"Death is seen as a natural part of the human experience, and it’s believed that every soul has a fixed time of death, which is ordained by Allah (God).”

“It means the ways that people generally do things – of dying, of dealing with a dying person or family. Reactions of arranging funerals of dealing with death, of griefs and the aftermath. It’s as simple as that. That's nothing fancy. It's just the way people do things. 

"In this country, it's not one thing, it's many, many ways. So there's no one culture of dying. In my view, there's multiple ways, multiple cultures.

“All the dimensions of dealing with death, I think are maybe slightly different.”