A death anniversary (or deathday) is the date on which a person died. It’s the polar opposite of a birthday celebration. Observing the anniversary of a family member or other significant individual’s death is a custom in several Asian cultures, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Myanmar, Iran, Israel, Japan, Bangladesh, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, as well as other places with significant overseas Chinese, Japanese, Jewish, Korean, and Vietnamese populations. Similar memorial ceremonies are also held at irregular periods, such as once a week.
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Although largely a kind of ancestor worship, the tradition has been linked to Confucianism and Buddhism (in East Asian cultural civilizations) or Hinduism and Buddhism (in South Asian cultural civilizations) (South Asia but mainly in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia). This type of celebration is known as a yahrtzeit in Judaism (Israel’s main religion) (among other terms). The Roman Catholic Christian tradition includes celebrating mass in memory of a loved one on or near the anniversary of their death.
China
Thousands of years ago in China (at least since the Shang dynasty), this type of ceremony entailed making sacrifices to the ghosts of one’s ancestors.
South Asia
Shraadh is a word that means “to give with devotion” or “to appreciate.” Shraadh is a rite in which one expresses respect for one’s ancestors. According to Nepali and Indian literature, after death, a soul must wander through numerous worlds and suffer much as a result of past karmas. Shraadh is a technique for easing this pain.
Shraadh is a ritual performed to appease one’s forefathers and mothers. Shraadh is a private ceremony held by the departed soul’s family members. Although it is not required spiritually, it is usually conducted by the eldest son, with other siblings joining in to offer prayers together.
Judaism
According to the Hebrew calendar, observant Jews mark the yahrtzeit of the death of parents, siblings, spouses, or children.
The principal commemoration is the recitation of the kaddish prayer, and a popular custom is to light a special candle called a yahrtzeit candle that burns for 24 hours.
Philippines
The funeral is merely one aspect of a complex mourning tradition in the Philippines. In a practice known, novena prayers are given for nine days after the funeral (although some start the practice the night after the death). Another service is usually performed on the fortieth day after the death, as it is believed that the souls of the deceased wander the Earth for forty days.
The 1st death anniversary is honoured with the final service one year after the death. After the ceremony, the deceased’s spouse can remarry, and the family can celebrate birthdays and attend parties again. The deceased’s non-valuable things will also be burned symbolically to signify the mourners’ ability to move on with their life. A feast and prayers for the deceased are usually held to commemorate the ceremony. Mourners wear full black for a year following a death or wear a black button as a memento in their daily life. After this, mourners may return to their regular costume, though some may choose to wear their mourning attire for lengthier lengths of time depending on the circumstances.
Although only the first anniversary of the death is commemorated, Filipinos remember all of their ancestors’ deaths at their cemetery sites on All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). (November 2).
Vietnam
Female family members traditionally spend the entire day making an elaborate dinner in honour of the departed person, which is subsequently shared by the entire family.
Additionally, incense sticks are lit in honour and memory of the deceased person. Because it is not uncommon for a family to celebrate numerous gi each year, the ritual also acts as a time for families to reunite, similar to the Vietnamese new year, Tt. Those who inherit the family estates, usually the deceased’s most senior patrilineal descendant, are responsible for the rituals.
Certain traditional Vietnamese meals (especially desserts) are specifically cooked during death anniversary banquets in Vietnamese culture. In addition, the favourite meals of the individual being remembered are prepared. Chicken, beloved meat in Vietnam, is frequently prepared as well. Small stuffed glutinous rice flour balls wrapped in leaves known as bánh t are a popular delicacy in Central Vietnam. Because preparing so many intricate foods takes so much time, some families opt to buy or pay caterers to cook certain dishes. A soft-boiled egg is also commonly prepared and then delivered to the oldest grandson.
Sri Lanka
Death anniversaries are regularly observed in Sri Lanka after seven days, three months, and one year.
They invite a Buddhist monk, neighbours, and relatives to their home at night after 7 days (nearly 7 pm). With Buddhist teachings, the monk offers to advise the populace. It is known as “Dharma Dna” in Sinhalese. Following that, they serve food to the guests who have been invited. After that day, they bring food to the temple or some people host almsgiving for monks at their homes. Buddhists believe that by doing so, they will receive merit.
They do the same for three months and a year. Some people invite monks to their homes late at night and host a Pirith chanting session. On the three-month anniversary of a person’s death, this is a frequent practice.
You can find solace in revisiting a specific area you frequented with your loved one on their death anniversary. This might be a place where you spent a lot of time together or where you simply had some memorable moments. It could be a cafe, a beach, a hiking trail, or a vacation place.
Being present in a physical location that meant something to you both might be a tangible method to remember priceless shared moments. Soak up the ambience and let the sights and sounds transport you back in time.
For those who were a significant part of the dead person’s life, the anniversary of their death is usually a day of mourning and contemplation. A death anniversary can be painful, but it also provides an opportunity to reflect. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the happy and humorous experiences you shared with your special someone, and to express gratitude for the good times.
A death anniversary might be commemorated in a variety of ways. Today is a day to honour and thank your loved ones for the gift they have given you, as well as to honour and thank them for the life they have led, in any way that feels appropriate.