Post #3 - Southeast Asia

Here I have included a video showcasing an example of funeral customs of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Of course, the idea of a funeral is universally observed throughout the world, but the ways in which the event is conducted can drastically differ from place to place. I selected this video because of the fact that we are indeed familiar with our own funeral customs, but it's always fun to explore how another group of people do things.
There are both similarities and differences with the funerals of the United States and that of Sulawesi. The general moods and ideas are similar; the people of Sulawesi gather in large groups and mourn the deceased, as Americans also do. But there are a few things that I especially find interesting about the customs of this small island across the Pacific. If the deceased individual was of higher social class, then more people were likely to attend, even those who did not have a personal relationship with them. The people of Sulawesi are known to make the ceremony an all-day affair, with food, music and singing among other various festivities. Combined with Christianity and historical background of the land, a funeral in Sulawesi can seem a little bizarre on the outside, but it's nothing new for the people across the Pacific. I think one of the main differences is that these Indonesians do not focus all of the energy on the mourning, but moreso on the desire to honor the dead. A lot of physical labor and preparation are needed for the funeral shown in this video.
Hope you learned something new today!