Ancestor Veneration
Maintaining connection with deceased ancestors through regular honoring.
The dead remain part of the community, requiring food, drink, and attention. On death anniversaries and special days, offerings are made to ancestors. They in turn provide protection, guidance, and blessing. The line between living and dead is thin.
The dead are not gone; they stand behind us, watching, helping.
Ancestor veneration maintains family bonds across the boundary of death.
Living Tradition
Written about in
- What the Maya tradition says about grief
The dead remain part of the community and are said to require food, drink and attention, with offerings on death anniversaries. This turns grief into a recurring duty, which is harder than moving on and also gives the first year a schedule.