ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the relationship between grief and culture/ethnicity, many of the world's communities, understanding relationships between life and death incorporates culturally specific, historically evolving religious traditions. Moments of transition help us to understand how culture works, in their everyday activities, culture is 'invisible' precisely. The chapter gives important implications for any bereavement support that may be offered in such cultures, the person offering the support needs to understand the cultural norms relating to death and grief that apply to the person being supported. The belief in the continuation of the deceased's relationships with the living beyond bodily death is one of three major types of response to bereavement and mourning rituals that identifies based on the work of major anthropologists. The chapter describes the difference between 'official' and 'lived' religion. It shows why is it important to identify the different sub-cultures that exists within a particular country.
