Culture of the United States

This article very generally discusses the customs and culture of the United States; for the "culture" of the United States, see arts and entertainment in the United States.

Death rituals

Deaths are generally thought to be an occasion for grieving by the majority of Americans. Funerals are held to honor the "passing away" of the individual. Unlike many other cultures, even that of neighboring Mexico, death is looked upon as a much greater sadness, and is dealt with in a much more subdued manner. Whereas some cultures may celebrate the passing of an individual with music which the deceased enjoyed or wearing colors that were favorites of the dead acquaintice, in the United States, the death of a loved one is seen as a time to mourn deeply, wearing all black, and making the pain and sadness that one is feeling, known. The dead are placed in a coffin and are generally embalmed and often displayed in a chapel or funeral home for a day or two (occasionally longer) before being buried in the ground. Unlike some Western European countries where the body remains in the cemetery for a limited period of time—e.g., 20 years—in the United States there is typically no limit. Cremation, an increasingly common practice, involves the burning of the body to ashes, which are then stored in an urn or scattered over a site or location significant to the deceased.

Related Topics:
Death - Funeral - Mexico - Funeral home - Cemetery - Cremation

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