The funeral cortege is a symbol of this very concept. It is a series of relations—first-degree relatives, extended family, dear friends, neighbors, and community members—all of which are present to mourn the loss and to support the family in their time of need. This cortege is led by the deceased themselves and those who bear him or her to the location of final rest symbolizing the route they have come and now must continue to travel alone. It serves to reveal the path and teach the way—literally—that must be taken to reach this geographical location. The path of the cortege also represents life as a journey and extends the metaphor into death, representing the passage of the spirit from this realm to what lies beyond.
The funeral cortege is a tangible symbol of progress—the progression of a life to death, the journey of the bereaved through their grief.
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Writing the obituary of my dreams.
2 comments:
Very interesting.
It's awfully interesting. I never thought of that, but I always found that ritual quite ridiculous, I would love to see it New Orleans style though, it's the kind of thing that would interest me. Happiness because someone went to a better place, not grief for pure selfishness...
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