Silence Alive. The Global Cultures of Farewell

3 Religious foundations of funeral culture

In Christianity, the idea of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life is central. This belief has had a strong influence on funeral culture. Burial is seen as a transition to eternal life, with the body being treated with dignity as the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’. Burial not only serves to show respect for the deceased, but also to strengthen the hope of the bereaved that they will be reunited with their loved ones in heaven for eternity. The choice between burial and cremation has been historically controversial. While the early Church rejected cremation because it was associated with pagan customs, since the 20th century it has increasingly accepted the practice, provided that it does not stem from an explicit denial of the belief in resurrection.

In Judaism, the sanctity of the body plays a central role. Humans are considered to be made in God's image, and their bodies should be respected even after death. Therefore, burial – ideally on the day of death – is the only permissible form of burial. Cremation is categorically excluded, as it is understood to be a violation of the divine order.

Jewish cemetery culture is closely linked to the concept of olam ha-ba (the ‘world to come’) and the resurrection of the dead at the end of days. Graves are not removed or reused; they are created for eternity. Preserving the peace of the dead is a central commandment.

Burial also has an unshakeable significance in Islam. It should take place as quickly as possible, within 24 hours of death. Cremation is strictly forbidden, as it is seen as disrespectful to creation

Islamic burial culture is characterised by simplicity. Graves must not be overly decorated or monumental, so as not to distract from the essential – the return to God. The body is wrapped in a white linen cloth (kafan) and laid in the grave without a coffin, with the face towards Mecca.

In Hinduism, rebirth (reincarnation) and the pursuit of moksha (liberation from the cycle of life) are central. The funeral culture is designed to support the soul on its way to the next life. Christianity, Judaism and Islam see death and burial as a transition to eternal life or some kind of afterlife experience, which depends heavily on faith and deeds in earthly life

4 Graves & crypts, rituals & symbols

The way people deal with death is reflected in rituals, symbols and forms of burial. Although the three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) share historical roots and thus have a certain cultural connection, their cemetery and burial cultures have developed in different ways. The Hindu tradition is characterised by cremation and the almost complete absence of cemeteries.

4.1 Christian cemeteries developed historically from churchyards. Many churches were surrounded by cemeteries, which were not only places of mourning, but also community spaces and places of remembrance. Later, large municipal cemeteries were created, often landscaped, which took up the idea of a ‘garden of peace’.

There are cultural differences within the Christian world. In Catholic regions, graves are often richly decorated with crosses, statues of saints or pictorial representations of eternal life. There are also statues of the Virgin Mary, representations of the Good Shepherd or Christ as the Saviour. Protestants prefer simpler forms, as they place more value on their inner relationship with God and less on external symbols. Protestants, on the other hand, prefer inscriptions with Bible quotations that convey comfort and hope. Crosses are the most important symbol on many Christian graves. They commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Angels, praying hands, fish or depictions of Bible scenes are also frequently found.

In Christianity, remembrance of the dead is strongly influenced by liturgy. Memorial days such as All Souls' Day or Remembrance Sunday are an integral part of the church year. In addition, masses or prayers for the deceased are celebrated regularly. In Catholic countries, lighting candles plays a central role, while in Protestantism, memorial services dominate.

4.2 A Jewish cemetery is called Beit ha-Chajim (‘House of Life’) or Beit Olam (‘House of Eternity’). This wording reflects the belief that death is not the end, but rather an intermediate stage.

The religiously prescribed inviolability of graves means that Jewish cemeteries retain their original structure over centuries. Graves are neither abandoned nor redesigned. In many historic Jewish cemeteries, this has resulted in dense, overgrown and highly symbolic landscapes of graves. Jewish cemeteries often fall into disrepair because they cannot be closed or reused for religious reasons and there is often a lack of active Jewish communities to take care of their maintenance. Especially after the Shoah and due to migration and emigration, there are hardly any Jews left in many cities, which means that there are insufficient resources for preservation and maintenance. In addition, Jewish cemeteries are exposed to special environmental conditions due to their permanent tranquillity and independence; natural vegetation overgrows the stones, and fallen gravestones are often not simply re-erected out of respect for the repose of the dead.

A special ritual involves placing small stones instead of flowers on the graves. This is intended to symbolise lasting remembrance. Common symbols on Jewish gravestones include the Star of David, the blessing hands of the priests (Cohanim), or a water jug, which signifies the Levites. Split candles also symbolise a life cut short.

The inscriptions are mostly in Hebrew,(Tehe nischmato/te nischmata zerura btzror ha-chajim – ’May his/her soul be bound up in the bundle of life").

In Judaism, there are annual memorial days such as Yahrzeit, when relatives light a candle and recite Kaddish. It is also typical to visit the grave on certain holidays, especially Yom Kippur and during the High Holidays. Commemoration is not only religious, but also strongly family-oriented, as it preserves the bond with ancestors.

4.3 Muslim graves are arranged in simple rows, all facing Mecca. A grave is permanent and is not reused. The gravestones usually bear verses from the Koran, the name of the deceased, their origin and date of death.

In contrast to Christian cemeteries, individual design is less important. The focus is on unity in the umma (community of believers) and on remembering the transience of life. In Islam, scripture is paramount. Calligraphic verses from the Koran are common decorative elements. Pictorial representations are rejected as they are considered incompatible with the prohibition of images.

The simplicity of the tomb architecture makes the writing and spoken prayer the most important element of commemorating the dead. In Islam, commemorating the dead is determined by prayers. There are fixed rituals after death: special prayers are said 3 days, 40 days and 1 year after death. It is customary to visit the grave regularly to pray, with the emphasis on intercession. Monumental memorials in the form of buildings are less common, but in some regions there are mausoleums of prominent figures.

4.4 Chinese cemetery and burial culture differs significantly from Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions, particularly in terms of ritual practices, symbolism and the social significance of ancestor worship.

In China, honouring ancestors is central to the commemoration of the dead, whereas in monotheistic traditions, individual remembrance and religious salvation dominate. Chinese graves are often family graves in which several generations are buried together. The idea that the deceased continue to influence the life of the family is essential to Chinese culture.

Chinese funerals involve numerous traditional rituals, such as wearing white clothing, the family keeping vigil over the body (shou ling), burning paper money and offerings, and loud music and fireworks to ward off evil spirits. The body is washed and wrapped in several layers of clothing, never in red, as this is considered dangerous. The design of the grave varies from region to region, but often there is a small mound above the grave, and the orientation is based on feng shui wherever possible.

Chinese graves often contain symbolic offerings such as paper money, paper houses, coins and personal items intended to provide for the deceased in the afterlife. The Qingming Festival, the Chinese day of remembrance for ancestors, is an annual occasion for visiting graves, cleaning them and making offerings. The intense connection between the festival, ancestral offerings and grave maintenance is unique to China.

4.5 In Hinduism, cremation of the body is the usual and preferred form of burial. For Hindus, cremation is an act that is supposed to release the soul from the cycle of life, death and rebirth (samsara) and transfer it to the next existence. Christianity, Judaism and Islam traditionally prefer burial; although cremation is increasingly accepted in Christianity, it is prohibited or strongly rejected in Judaism and Islam.

Hindu funerals begin with a ritual washing and wrapping of the deceased in a white cloth, symbolising purity. The relatives take part in the farewell ritual and ceremony; traditionally, it is mainly male family members, especially the first-born son, who light the fire. The pyre is often erected on the banks of a river, ideally the Ganges or another sacred body of water. Mourning is shown with restraint; loud weeping is rather unusual and women traditionally participate less frequently in the ritual. After cremation, the ashes and remains of the deceased are scattered in the waters of a sacred river, symbolising the final detachment of the soul. The rites vary according to region, caste and tradition.

5 The exhibition in Thiruvanathapuram

The exhibition will be on display from ... to ... in ... Park in Thiruvanathapuram. The documentation covers cemeteries from Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Chinese cultures. From these countries: Germany, USA, Rwanda, Malaysia, Tunisia, Austria, Lebanon, UK. Part of the exhibition concept is that I also document a place of funeral culture in each country where it is shown. In the case of Kerala, it will be the cremations on Kannur beach.