Epilogue: Grief, Bereavement, and Ritual Across Cultures

Abstract

The chapters included in this book offer rich descriptions of beliefs and practices related to grief mourning, and death across a variety of cultures. At one end of the spectrum are the more industrialized cultures of Australia, Canada, Greece. Israel, Romania, and the United States. Al the other end of the spectrum are indigenous cultures that have endured despite colonization by Europeans: the Maori in New Zealand, and Native American cultures in the United States. Also included arc examples from Africa: Somali culture, the Bakalanga tribe of Botswana, and ethnic communities in Kenya. Two East Asian countries are represented: South Korea and China. And two Latin American countries: Brazil and Mexico. Despite the similarities these cultures and countries may have based on proximity or shared values, their unique histories are reflected in their diverse approaches to death. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)