Buried in a hanging coffin – the tradition of the Igorot tribe
The Cordillera Central Mountains, in the north of the Philippines, are home to the secluded village of Sagada, nestled far from the country’s capital of Manila. Tourists do make the eight-hour pilgrimage to this part of the world to partake in many leisure activities – waterfall exploration, spelunking trips… and viewing the suspended caskets of the region’s dead.
Hanging coffin – a tradition for over two millennia
In a historical tradition that is still practised today, albeit sporadically, the Kankanaey people of Sagada -members of the collective group known as the Igorot tribe – have long buried their deceased relatives in coffins of their own construction, and hung them either inside caves, or from steep cliff faces high above the villagers below.
These burials have been taking place for over two millennia, predating the arrival of the Spanish in the country, and many of the coffins hanging today are believed to have been in situ for over a century. In time, the coffins will deteriorate and fall from their lofty heights, along with their dearly departed contents.
You can read the full article from Funeral Direct Monthly ON THIS LINK.
Want to join the NAFD?
If you are not a member and want to join and enjoy many member benefits, including our award winning FDM magazine, then find out more about the benefits of membership.
As the largest representative body for UK funeral firms, we provide advice, advocacy, education and support to help funeral professionals meet the highest professional standards and provides bereaved people with reassurance that they are choosing a compassionate and experienced funeral director they can trust.
Continue your professional development
The NAFD’s revolutionary new learning platform – the NAFD Learning Hub – sits at the centre of the NAFD’s bold two-year plan for the introduction of mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) within the NAFD, in line with the likely next steps that the Government will take. There is still time to secure a place in the NAFD Learning Hub pilot to help us shape this resource.