funeral rites and ceremonies

Death may be universal, but just as every culture has found ways of living life differently, each has also found different and sometimes extraordinary ways to deal with dying and the effects that it has on the people left behind. This wide-ranging book examines the compelling subject of death and burial in varied cultures, societies, and ages. It considers the rituals surrounding death, from the drama of medieval French royal funerals to the live burials of the Dinka in the Sudan, and from facing death, with the 5,000 strong terra-cotta army, as the first Chinese emperor Shihuangdi did in 260 B.C., to the elaborate mausolea of wealthy Victorians. Covering all periods in history and religions, The History of Death also examines the differing approaches to funerals, whether solemn, celebratory, drunken or even sexually promiscuous. It illuminates the combination between the earthly and spiritual in furneral rites, the practices of human sacrifice and ritual killing, as well as the processes of grieving, burial, cremation, remembrance, and the differing concepts of life after death.

Ceremonies for honoring the departed are crucial parts of our lives, but few people know where our traditional practices come from--and what they reveal about our history, culture, and beliefs about death. In Last Rites, author Todd Harra takes you on a fascinating exploration of American customs around death, burial, and remembrance.

"As if being stuffed into last year's dress pants at his cousin's wake weren't uncomfortable enough, thirteen-year-old Jimmy has just learned from his mother that he has to say a few words at the funeral the next day. Why him? What could he possibly say about his cousin, who ruined everything they did? He can't recall one birthday party, family gathering, or school event with Patrick that didn't result in injury or destruction. As Jimmy attempts to navigate the odd social norms of the wake, he draws on humor, heartfelt concern, and a good deal of angst while racking his brain and his memory for a decent and meaningful memory to share. But it's not until faced with a microphone that the realization finally hits him: it's not the words that are spoken that matter the most, but those that are truly heard"--Publisher.

"In this novel for middle readers, twelve-year-old Evie befriends a boy who is grieving the loss of both his parents"--Provided by publisher.

An introduction to the tombs that can be found in Egypt, discussing who built them, what has been found in them and more.

This title lays out how and why Egyptians made mummies and gives some famous mummies as examples. Clear text and vibrant photos grab and hold readers' interest, and QR Codes in each chapter link to book-specific videos, activities, and more. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, Making Connections questions, a glossary, an infographic, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. DiscoverRoo is an imprint of Pop!, a division of ABDO.

Oh, the places you don?t want to go. In this title, readers will get a close-up look at all sorts of disgusting places through vivid images, infographics, sidebars, and more.

". . . combines simple, poetic text with a "big idea"--in this case, the idea that death is a natural part of our lives and that many species experience sadness and mourning when their loved ones are sick and dying. From elephants to killer whales, parrots to bonobos, lemurs to humans, many animals have rituals to commemorate their loved ones and to help them through difficult times"--Provided by publisher.

". . . examines the history, beliefs and customs surrounding death in cultures around the world"--Provided by publisher.

"Offers a . . . portrait of 'The Old Guard,' the revered U.S. Army unit whose mission is to honor our country's fallen heroes on the most hallowed ground in America, [including the experience from the author's time in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment] "--Amazon.