Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries.

But our traditions are vastly different from those in other countries and cultures.

This article looks at Albanian funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead. Other parts of the series are about Cambodian funeral traditions and Annang funeral traditions, among others.

Note, these traditions may vary depending on the individual and their own beliefs.

Traditional Albanian Funeral

Traditional Albanian grave mounds can still be viewed today, dating back to 1650-1400 BCE. Albanians dug the pits into rock and had small stones at the bottom for the body to lie on. The grave walls contain timbers, clay, and other material slabs and dirt filled up the pit. The outside walls form a second circle with stones etched with elaborate artwork, resembling headstones. The deceased also had significant possessions — such as jewelry, hair pins or bronze weapons — buried with them.

Another type of traditional burial was Tholoi chambers, also known as beehive chambers. These chambers sunk into mountain edges with large stones arranged like a beehive. There is a small doorway to get into the burial chamber and an open triangle pointing upwards above the doorway. This is thought to symbolize the holy trinity or also possibly marking it as a spiritual site.

Today’s Albanian Funeral Rituals

Today, an Albanian funeral is at home or in a church. A close loved one may say a eulogy to honor the deceased. Sometimes the body sits up in a chair so loved ones can say their final goodbyes. Then, there’s a funeral procession to the graveyard for the burial. Albanians don’t typically practice cremation.

The burial usually occurs on the same day as the death or the day after depending on the time of death. Sometimes men have important items buried with them, such as a rife, cigar, or another significant item. A wooden cross may rest on the grave to protect the deceased from turning into a vampire.

Stones also may be placed to guide the deceased to the afterlife. According to the 2009 International Religious Freedom Report, Islam is the most common Albanian religion, with Christianity coming in second. Albanians believe people good at heart have an easy death, while others have a hard death. They also believe life leaves people through their mouth, so they leave coins in their mouth for their afterlife journey. They also may leave other supplies and food for the journey.

Traditional Albanian polyphonic music is common at significant events, like weddings and funerals, along with an antiphonal two-verse song. Men usually perform these songs and they’re more common in northern and southern regions of Albania.

Mourning Period

The mourning period typically lasts for 40 days after the death, but some rural areas still have traditional mourning rituals. These rituals include heavy wailing, cutting or tearing out hair, turning clothes inside out, and scratching your face to symbolize pain the deceased may have suffered. Females usually perform these rituals, or sometimes families hire professional female mourners.