Different cultures around the world have tried to give death a meaning, and a reason; giving afterlife a sense of peace, so that it does not sound so intimidating. Ancient Egyptians seemed to have had very elaborate thoughts about the Afterlife. It was an important part of their everyday lives because the way that they lived on Earth affected their potential Afterlife. Mummification process was an important aspect of the journey to the Afterlife. Every small part of a deceased body was preserved, even the internal organs which were placed in canopic jars.
The Incan mourning color was black, which, coincidentally is also the mourning color of Christianity. For the Incan people, the destination of a person would depend on how he lived his life, if the dead had lead a virtuous life, he would join the sun in heaven, where they would have access to the after life and participate in the lives of their descendants but the evil spirits however would be forced to live in the underworld in a miserable and cold
The drum then in the form of a circle consisting of both tree and animal signify the interdependence of all in the life cycle here where we live. The Tewikan is sacred, it is approximately 3 feet in diameter, and must be blessed by an elder before it is used for sacred gatherings only. The drum is placed in charge of one person, the drum keeper. The drum keeper is responsible for any needed repairs as well as protecting it from people who drink or use drugs, or those who would be disrespectful of its sacred entity for example using it as a table or for any other means other than what its purpose for sacred ceremonies. During the Pow Wow the drum is surrounded by 4 or more singers who beat the drum to symbolize the unified heartbeat of all present.
They have a leader, the urgency to protect their kind, rituals and traditions. For example, the Na’vis sought protection and guidance from their ancestral spirits prior to the destruction of their planet. The movie depicts the system of hunting and gathering to find food and shelter. In addition, they made their weapons using natural resources as opposed to military weapons. From my point of view, the culture of the Na’vis is a mirror image of what occurs in tribes across the world that is unique and endangered.
I agree with some of the historians she chooses. Like Calvin Martin, he said the Indians do a fur-trade because of the holy war of revenge they are doing. Hunting animals is sacred to Indians, so when they hunt, they do a ritual first to connect with the spirit of the animals. Even in my own culture, we didn’t hunt just for fun or sport. We hunt for food and resources.
One of the main concerns for people on every stage of their existence is finding the origin, the Father, the creator. It is this feeling of loneliness, not belonging to anywhere. To satisfy the curiosity on a subject in religious way means make a belief some ideal creatures are responsible for our existence. For example, primeval people believed they were originated from a particular animal or a plant (depending on a tribe). These “origins” were associated with an under human power.
Red Indian Rituals and Ceremonies * Death Ceremonies Native Americans celebrated death, knowing that it was an end to life on Earth, but, believing it to be the start of life in the Spirit World. Most tribes also believed that the journey might be long, so after life rituals were performed to ensure that the spirits would not continued to roam the earth. Various tribes honored the dead in several ways, by giving them food, herbs, and gifts to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. The Hopi Indians believe that the soul moves along a Sky path westwards and that those who have lived a righteous life will travel with ease. However, those who haven't will encounter suffering on their journey.
Huron believed that everything existed in the nature including animals; plants and rocks had spiritual power in them. Their view of nature reflected in their way of living. Being hunters and agriculturists, they lived in small villages in the midst of nature. Rather than seeking to own the land around them, they inhabited land and lived harmoniously with the nature. They made farmland in the forest by controlled burning in a small area and cultivating crop in that area.
They believed in the horns when they are dropped their direction to which they fall is important. In order to ensure the communities well-being, the shaman regulates relations between the community and the spirits. They become involved in matters such as controlling the weather, expelling harmful spirits, detecting broken taboos that bring misfortune as we saw in the, locating game or fish and most of all cure the sick and guiding the souls of the deceased to the spirit world all this was noted in the movie. They believe a person has seven souls and without the shaman hmong’s would get sick. Because of their unique powers, shamans gain a great amount of political Influence in their surrounding communities.
While banded together in the winter months, Inuit’s practice healing rituals and ceremonies as a significant part of their social life. During the summer months, the Inuit’s disperse out of the groups and collect berries and roots while small groups of men go out fishing. Having minimal people in a group is a key to having a successful hunt. Two practices that people of different cultures may not agree with that the Inuit culture practices are Infanticide and Geronticide. Infanticide is the practice of killing babies if they are deformed, or if the mother is