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Ancestor worship in the world today

Walking With Giants Posted on by

‘Ancestor worship’ is, perhaps, something of a misnomer, since most of the examples given below do not involve ‘worship’ of ancestors as if they were deities.  Rather, they include a belief that ancestors may mediate access to deity, or have some kind of influence on the lives of the living.

The following examples are based on this article, by Sarah Kessler.

1. Sraddha from India.  Male members of the Hindu faith are required to take part in the Sraddha ritual.  This is a rite performed for deceased parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.  It is thought to ease their way through the afterlife and to eventual reincarnation.  Sraddha rites involve making food offerings to priests and to the souls of the deceased.  These rites take place on the 11th an 31st day after a person’s death, and at regular intervals thereafter.  The annual holiday of Pitru Paksha is dedicated to performing the rite.

2. Vodum from Ghana and other West African nations.  This religion is known as Voodoo elsewhere in the world.  It centres on a multiplicity of gods.  Until a century ago, human sacrifice was involved; nowadays, animal sacrifice is used.  The Vodun faith involves ancestral worship.  The souls of the dead are believed to walk among the living at certain times, including during a dance performed by hooded figures called Egunguns, or “living ghosts.”  These hooded figures are believed to represent the dead so accurately that even touching them can kil a living person.
3. Día de Los Muertos from Mexico.  In the ‘day of the dead’ festival, celebrants connet with the souls of the departed.  In Mexican and Spanish Catholic tradition, offering items to the deceased will help them through the afterlife.
4. Venerated Saints from Rome.  In Catholicism, important religious figures – saints – are venerated.  Some Catholics offer prayer and devotion to certain saints.
5. Shi Ceremony from China.  A shi is a stand-in for a deceased ancestor.  A ‘personator’ acts the part of the ancestor, and recives offerings on the dead person’s behalf.  Large family reunions take place, where many ancestors can gather in the forms of their personators.  They can enjoy blessings from the living family members.

6. Megalithic Tombs from Europe.  Ancient Europeans built giant burial tombs in order to venerate ancestors.  They were often built to look like houses, indicating a belief in the afterlife.

7. Pchum Ben from Cambodia.  At the Buddhist holiday of Pchum Ben departed ancestors are honoured as far back as seven generations.  For 15 days each year, families bring offerings of food, which their bring to the monks at their local places of worship.

8. Samhain from Scotland.  Samhain is known as the pagan version of Halloween.  But it was originally a festival to mark the end of Autumn, and the time of year when the Celts believed the spirits of ancestors could walk among the living.  Ancestors were honoured, and negative encounters avoided, by the offering of food and drink to the ancestors and by offering departed family members a seat at the feast.

9. Shinto Rites from Japan.  Many families in Japan observe both Buddhism and Shinoism.  The latter involves spirits known as kami.  These are believed to inhabit everything on earth.  Ancestors are thought to be a type of kami.  Most festivals and rites involve presenting offerings to Shinot shrines in exchange for good results.

10. Paganito from the Philippines.  In ancient Filippino belief, spirits called Anito are found everywhere.  They are the spirits of ancestors, and influence events in the lives of the living.  A Paganito ceremony is a kind of seance, in which a shaman communicates with the Anito spirits.

11. Chuseok from Korea.  This holiday is celebrated in both North and South Korea.  It is rather like a harvest festival.  However, it is dedicated to thanking the ancestors for the harvest.  At this time, offerings are made to the departed relatives, and families visit and clean the graves.

12. Calan Gaeaf from Wales.  On the first day of winter, the spirits of the ancestors are believed to walk amongst the dead.  People will traditionally give a wide berth to places such as churchyards, in order to avoid contact with the spirits.  One’s ancestors can be honoured, and a negative encounter with spirits avoided, by writing your name on a rock and placing it near a fire.

 

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