In Remembrance of Those Loved: Death and Funeral Culture of Italy

When most people think of Italy, the first things that come to mind include world-renowned pasta and pizza, the vast Roman Empire of history that literally shaped civilization as we know it today, the Mafia culture from the rolling Sicilian hills that emit the quaint and subtle waves of aromatic olives, and so much more. Of course, there are many wonderful things about Italy that linger in deep cultural practices, and regarding the Italian funeral culture and the general views of death, Italy is certainly a place of sophistication, romanticism, and wonder.

 

However, funerals and death in Italy are certainly a world away from tribal practices and mysticism in other parts of the world, and because of the deeply-rooted Catholic views of the country, many other Christian nations have developed similar practices throughout their histories. With this being said, many people will recognize many Italian funeral rituals, such as a beautifully conducted last rite, prayer vigils, a funeral liturgy, and Catholic Mass. At these events, you can expect to see and meet the entire family, friends, community members, and anyone else who wishes to pay tribute to the recently departed. Additionally, the traditional color of dress for the entire funeral process is black, a custom very typical of several Christian funeral services across the globe. No matter if you aren't intimately related to the dead, you always have the chance to say a few words if you'd like as well.

 According to Italian customs, the casket is typically open during the funeral service and it is customary to actually give the deceased a little kiss on the cheek, which is a prominent mode of giving respect and showcasing love for the life once lived with such vibrancy and honor. After the funeral services, which are typically ordained with chrysanthemums and a wide range of colorful flora, many of the mourners gather at the gravesite.

With some services, each person will walk up and throw a handful of dirt or a flower on top of the casket, tearfully saying goodbye just one more time. Unfortunately, this practice has slowed down due to the dire lack of graveyard space, and actually finding some grave space is definitely considered as a precious item. Therefore, most interments are held within a stunning mausoleum that transcends the typical and ancient architecture that Italy is so famous for. Surrounding these mausoleums, all of which are a work of art on their own, the dead get to rest peacefully in calm, serene, and green settings ordained with quaint roads cutting through the graveyard, towering trees with branches over-arching the walkways, and subtle beauties in every direction.

Although these funeral services seem quite normal, there is definitely a much stronger community outreach regarding the loved ones who have died, especially in the smaller villages. In honor of those recently deceased, it is not uncommon to discover a range of posters featuring the news about the dead and information regarding the funeral, much like the obituaries found in a newspaper. However, unlike newspaper obituaries, these posters can be found plastered all over the town, providing a sense that they are more like election posters as opposed to the grave news of a recent death.

On top of the funeral rituals and the heaps of loving respect to the dead, Italians continue to base many of their practices over one of the most important factions of their culture: food. Once news of a death has hit family members, friends, neighbors, and anyone else, piles of incredible dishes will start rolling in. Especially during a social gathering to commemorate the dead, you should probably expect to receive so much pasta, casserole, wine, and other foods that you will be eating quite well for an entire week. Food is deeply engrained into Italian culture, and it is reserved as an important aspect of life, friendship, and love. Therefore, when the sadness and tragedy surrounding death turns its head on a family, food serves as a powerful way to bring people together and vivaciously celebrate with heart, sympathy, and joy.

Not only are the funeral services extraordinarily beautiful, eliciting memories that won’t soon be forgotten by anyone who attended, but also there is this final idea about death the permeates fair superstitions that lingers along the edge of empathy and gravity. Basically, once a person has died, many Italians do not want their soul to return to Earth. In fact, this superstition still exists, and according to beliefs, the soul actually doesn’t want to leave the Earth.

If you were to think about this with an open mind, it actually makes sense. The soul has all of his or her friends, family, loved ones, articles of nostalgia, possessions, and virtually anything else still on the Earth; why would the soul want to leave all this behind for something a little more new and intimidating in front of him or her. Therefore, it is not uncommon for surviving family and friends to bury the recently departed with a range of his or her favorite possessions. Furthermore, and this might sound a bit strange and fairly difficult to do, many Italians actually stray from speaking about the dead immediately after the initial period of mourning. For these Italians, actually talking about the dead might encourage them to not actually leave the Earth.
 In fact, these superstitions are quite prominent in many Italian cities, as when my friend Daniel went to go take photos of the beauty and glory of the Italian cemeteries, he was refused entry with his camera. As he found out, taking photos would be showing appreciation of the dead, giving them a reason to return to this Earth. Additionally, it would have been quite the challenge to even get into the cemetery with a camera to take some photos discretely, as all of the cemeteries in Palermo, Sicily, had a large gate blocking the entry with a security guard screening all those who entered. In the end, Daniel refused to take the photos even if he was able to enter, as this would have turned into a great disrespect for all of those resting souls. This short experience truly showcased everything he had learned from his research in a way that couldn't be told by anyone except the security guards themselves.

Daniel has been living throughout Italy for a while now, and from his time in several regions he has been learning all about the culture around death, and from what he has told me, he can only express everything that he has experienced in one strong word: gravity. Like many of the things that Italians do, there is definitely a strong level of community and passion regarding the dead. For me, this passion serves as a quaint introduction into the various artistic levels that can also commemorate the beauty of the lives that have passed. From the wealth of stunning chrysanthemums to the aromas of food swirling like steam above colorful plates of assorted pastas, Italian culture has once again touched my heart in ways that I have never thought possible. Even in death, there is nothing but undying respect and strong showcases of love, and as a way to make sure that the dead retain in the hearts and minds of those who continue forward, the Italians surely know how to bring beautiful gravity.