In the U.S., traditional burials and cremation are the two options available for laying the deceased to rest. The burial services practiced throughout history and across the world differ significantly from our practices, however. Discover some of the most interesting ways different cultures memorialize their loved ones below.

5 Unique Burial Services Practiced by Different Cultures  

1. South Korean Burial Beads

Due to its restricted space, people in South Korea have had to find alternate means for handling the remains of the deceased outside of traditional burial services. While cremation is the norm, citizens have adopted the meaningful practice of pressing cremated remains into burial beads. These colorful mementos are then displayed in a bottle or urn.

2. Chinese Mountainside Coffins

Found in central China, hanging coffins are lined up along the faces of cliffs, with the oldest suspected to date back 3,000 years. Tang Dynasty literature seems to suggest that the higher a coffin was placed, the more well-respected the individual was. Researchers are still unsure of how the coffins were transported to such magnificent heights.

3. New Orleans Jazz Funerals

While they continue to take place to this day right here in the U.S., jazz funerals combine African spiritual practices with European influences. In New Orleans, LA, the tradition of accompanying the funeral procession with a brass band began in the early 20th century. While slow, somber songs are often featured, sometimes upbeat melodies, such as “When the Saints Go Marching In,” are played as well.

4. Han Dynasty Suits of Jade

Royal members of the Han dynasty, which reigned supreme in China from 206 BC to 220 AD, were laid to rest in jade burial suits. Featuring thousands of plates of precious stone held together by gold and silver threading, these suits are suspected to have taken more than a decade for even the most skilled jade-smith to make.

5. Tibetan Sky Burials

Also known as a celestial burial, this tradition isn’t actually a burial service at all. The practice is founded on the Buddhist principle that the body should be offered up to animals as an act of charity. A body is placed on a mountaintop in an offering to the birds, called jhator.   

Although various cultures have and will continue to hold burial practices different from the traditional burial services we’re familiar with, the common thread is that in any form, these customs allow us to honor a life and bring surviving loved ones a sense of peace. When families in Indianapolis City, IN seek respectful funeral and burial services to commemorate their loved ones, they turn to Shirley Brothers Mortuaries & Crematory-Washington Memorial Chapel. This family-owned funeral home was founded in 1898 and has remained committed to providing comfort to those who have lost loved ones ever since. To speak with a funeral director, call (317) 897-9606 or learn about pre-planning options online.