Tag Archives: Family

46. LIFE CYCLE: DEATH

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How is death viewed? Is there life after death? Is the dead person feared? Why? What steps are taken to protect the living?

How soon is a person buried after death? How is a dead body preserved until the funeral takes place? Is there a “wake?” How are friends and family notified of the death of a loved one? How are people greeted as they arrive? By whom? How long do guests stay and what do they do to comfort the family? How do the chief mourners relate to the guests?

Who prepares the corpse for burial and how is this done? How are financial arrangements made if done by practitioners? Who is responsible for making funeral arrangements? How is the gravesite determined? Who prepares it? How is a corpse disposed of? What happens to the person’s belongings?

Describe the customs observed at death and for a funeral. How long does the mourning period last? What are the obligations and responsibilities of the family during this time? What is expected from friends and others (supplying meals, continued visits, prayer, reciting religious texts, etc.)?

What happens to widows or widowers? Who cares for them? May they remarry? Is there a mourning period? How long is it and what signs of mourning are shown?

Is euthanasia practiced? For what reasons? Are there cases of suicide? For what reasons do people kill themselves? Is suicide treated differently from other types of death?

47. THE VALUE OF EDUCATION

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What is the parental attitude toward schooling for children? How much education should boys/girls have?

To which grade can a child study in the local setting? In order to study further, would the child have to be sent elsewhere? To a boarding school? or to stay with relatives while studying? What value is placed on education by the family? by the community? by the tribe? Does the amount of education received affect the type of employment available? The choice of a marriage partner?

What is considered the minimum education required for an office job? for maintenance work? for a physician? etc.? Would any of these require specialized education and is this readily available? Is there discrimination in admission procedures? In what way?

How is the completion of an educational course acknowledged? Is there a graduation ceremony sponsored by the institution? What does the family or community do to celebrate? Are gifts given and received? By whom and to whom?

What are the expectations of the community, the nation, the family, from a graduate?

65. RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: The Role of Ancestors

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Are past generations of ancestors remembered? Are they honored? In what way? Is there a difference between how male ancestors or female ancestors are honored?

How important is this nationally? for the family? to the individual? for the deceased?

Is there a special time locally or nationally when ancestors are remembered? What is done at this time?

Does the family make regular visits to the gravesite(s)?

  • How often do they go?
  • What do they do there?
  • What other activities are done by the family to remember their loved ones?
  • Are there special ancestral shrines?
  • Where are they, and what objects are kept there? How are they used?
  • What other activities are done by family members to care for the needs of their ancestors?

Are ancestors considered benevolent extensions of the earthly family unit?

  • If so, what are the obligations expected to be carried out by the living for the dead?
  • By the dead for the living? For how long?
  • Who in the family makes sure these obligations are carried out?
  • Are there pictures of the deceased in the home?
  • Are they in a special place for remembrance, intercession, or prayer?
  • Are pictures taken of the dead body and put in a special place?

Are the ancestors feared as spirits which might harm the living?

  • How many generations need to pass before the harm is mitigated?
  • What needs to be done by the family to block potential harm?
  • What things offend to the ancestors?
  • If they are offended, what may they do to the living?
  • What must be done to placate their displeasure?

Are ancestors consulted?

  • How often and in what way?
  • Are séances held? When, where and why?
  • What can ancestors do to help the living that the other spirits or gods cannot or will not do?

73. WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Culture

Do names have meaning? Do they have significance?

What determines the name a baby would receive? A family name come down through the generations? a national or religious hero? Desired characteristics? The day, month, or season when born? After a geographical area? After things in nature, as trees, flowers, heavenly bodies? Other?

Is there a tendency for some kind of pattern to be followed within a family; as, do all names begin with the same letter or syllable? or do they end with a rhyming syllable? If this is the case, how widespread is the practice?

Who names the child—the parents, or grandparents? A prestigious member of the community? Is a person expected to live up to the meaning of his/her name? Is there an auspicious time for naming a child? How is this determined?

Is a person’s name ever changed? For what reason?

Are names shortened for common use? How is this done? Collect some and see if there is a pattern which is followed. Are children ever given a household “pet” name? If so, how long does that name remain in use? Are nicknames used? Are they descriptive of the person, relate to their occupation or talent, or some other criterion?

What power is thought to be in a name? Are there times you should not call a person by his/her name? Why? Are there any names that are taboo or unacceptable for some other reason? What is that reason? What names are most desirable?

Are there names which are popular now which were not popular a generation or so ago? What were popular names back then? What are the popular names now?