How do Wicca/pagans celebrate death?

Question

Often times catholics have a mass then funeral persesion when someone dies. Do wicca/ pagans have a ritual that they follow when someone passes?

Answer 1

The Farrars published a Requiem in their book, Eight Sabbats for Witches -- the book contains rituals for the eight Wiccan holidays, as well as rituals for birth (Wiccaning), marriage (Handfasting), and Death (the Requiem). Death is celebrated and honored, not feared -- Death is simply a part of the cycle of Life. The deceased person may be burried with their ritual tools, wand, athame, etc., or in their ceremonial robes. Many Wiccans believe in reincarnation, and most believe in a "Summerland" where the soul can rest between lives. Some of us believe that the Dead become ancestor spirits, and protect and guide us from the spirit world. And some of us believe all of these things are possible, and that it is up to the soul how they choose to spend their afterlife. Some Pagan traditions are very focused on the Dead -- on honoring the Ancestors, giving them offerings, keeping their memories alive. Samhain (Halloween) is all about the Dead -- it is primarily an Ancestor holiday. It is a time to honor, and even communicate with, those loved ones who have passed, and also a time to say good bye to those who died in the past year.

In my personal beliefs, those whom we love become our ancestors when they die. They continue to love us as they did in life, and they guide, protect, and aid us in subtle ways. They can even communicate with us in dreams, and through divination techniques such as scrying (gazing into a reflective surface, such as a crystal or bowl of water). And, after a time, they may choose to be reborn -- to reincarnate.

Death is not an ending for us. It is just part of the cycle, part of the Wheel.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

There isn't any universal pagan practice for death--in part because there are dozens of different pagan religions.

But even among members of the same religion, there's no one standard practice. People are encouraged to find their own ways of understanding life's mysteries, and ways to connect to their communities while acknowledging those events.

A practice I've seen in many pagan circles is a "gift-wake": a gathering of friends, soon after the death, at the deceased person's home, during which time his or her minor possessions are given away to whoever wants them. This helps the family clear out what's soon going to be "that pile of junk," and people get a meaningful memento: the t-shirt their friend wore when they saw a movie together, or a paperback book they discussed, or the coffee cup they always used. Sometimes, there's not even a personal connection; it's more like "I'll take this pen from her desk because I loved her writings."

Pagans celebrate the life of the person, and mourn that person's absence in the lives of their loved ones. There's no great focus on what happens to the soul afterwards; that's left to the gods to sort out; the celebrations (if that's the right word) are focused on the living: remembering the person's contributions, not trying to pretend it doesn't make people sad that they're gone, and sorting out how to continue the good things they've begun.

There are songs and prayers and sometimes rituals that are done for these things, but they change from group to group. Some people's lives are best honored with quiet, somber gatherings; others are remembered as boisterous, energetic people, and to honor their memory, their friends hold a massive party!

Answer 4

Most pagan traditions celebrate all the phases of life, including death. What ritual is done is left up to the different traditions and what ritual, if any, the deceased person had arranged.

Most basic is the gathering of family and friends, invoking the deities and asking them to take the loved one to a restful place (until ready to reincarnate if they believe in it). Talking and celebrating the person's life and family, encouraging their spirit to move on to their peaceful place. Thanking the deities. Usually followed by the burial or scattering of ashes.

Much like a lot of Christian funerals I've seen but more of a celebration.

Answer 5

Some Norse-inclined Pagans might observe old style Norse funeral rites, such as floating the deceased onto the water in a wooden boat and burning it and then having a memorial sumble, and for the most part all the different Pagan religions have their own thing. Not too much different from other religions really.

Answer 6

I haven't seen a specific formal funeral ritual for Wiccans, but most Pagan religions (by Pagan, I mean, any and all Earth-centered, or pre-Christian religions) do have a funeral ceremony of some kind. I have known Pagan friends to "borrow" a Native American ritual, or Celtic...whatever calls to them. Or, you could also write your own.

I wouldn't use the word celebrate, though. But, it would be fun to play "Ding Dong the Witch is dead"...LOL!

Answer 7

Wiccan Death Ritual

Answer 8

Yes. many. Many reconstructionalist groups have ones passed down to them from ancient tomes of how their pagan ancestors celebrated the passing. Others use more modern rituals.

Answer 9

Christmas is great . It's the Pagan Return of Light celebration . The days begin getting longer . Wonderful . Easter is a beautiful holiday , the Pagan Rebirth . They celebrated it with eggs , baby bunnies , chicks , flowers , dancing , partying . Too bad the Christians had to steal the holiday , and invent a "rebirth " ( coming back to life ) of their hero .

Answer 10

I practice a type of Paganism called Daemonolatry. And yes - we do have traditional funeral rites.