In China's vast rural areas, funeral customs are an important part of traditional culture, and they carry a deep understanding of life and death, filial piety, and family honor. However, with the development of society and the popularization of scientific knowledge, some traditional customs began to be questioned. In particular, the saying "if the husband and wife do not send a funeral, the funeral will suffer" has attracted widespread attention.
The origin of the saying "if a husband and wife do not send a funeral, the funeral will suffer".
China's rural society has traditionally valued family and blood ties, and funeral customs largely reflect this value. The proverb "If a husband and wife do not send a funeral, the funeral will suffer" can be traced back to ancient Confucianism, especially the idea of the distinction between men and women and the division of roles in the family. In ancient times, men were seen as the head of the family and the pillar of society, while women were mainly responsible for household chores and raising children. As a result, the role of men is often more prominent in funeral rites, while women are considered to avoid direct participation so as not to affect the harmony and stability of the family.
This proverb may also be related to ancient fears and superstitions about death. In many cultures, death is seen as a source of uncleanness and misfortune, and it is believed that participating in funeral activities may bring bad luck. In order to protect family members, especially women in the family, it has become a common practice to avoid their direct involvement in funeral activities.
In fact, we all know that the proverb is the experience of the older generation summed up from life, an old man in the village told me that the source of this proverb is actually a very loving couple in the past, the two lived together for a lifetime, but the man died first due to illness, and her wife was very reluctant, so she personally participated in the funeral procession to send her wife on the last journey, and when she returned home, she also went with her wife the next day.
Since then, people in the village have said, "If the husband and wife do not send a funeral, the funeral will suffer", which is our local saying. So is this really true? Is it superstition or science? Let's analyze it!
From a cultural point of view: Traditionally, the participation of one spouse in the funeral of the other spouse may be considered unlucky because it breaks the division of family roles and may also be considered to interfere with family harmony. However, these perceptions have gradually changed over time and in the development of society.
From an emotional support perspective: In modern society, there is often a deep emotional connection between couples. In times of grief for the loss of a partner, it is very important to have the companionship and support of the other partner. Therefore, from the point of view of emotional support, it is reasonable for one spouse to participate in the funeral of the other spouse and a consolation for the deceased and the living.
From the perspective of law and social norms: The laws and norms of modern society pay more attention to the rights and choices of individuals. Husbands and wives should participate in each other's funerals on the basis of their own wishes and emotional needs, rather than being forced by traditional customs.
From a psychological and health perspective: Psychological research has shown that participating in a loved one's funeral can help the living cope with the loss, relieve grief through a sense of ritual, and promote psychological recovery. From a mental health perspective, the involvement of one spouse in the funeral of the other spouse is positive.
With the openness of social concepts and the progress of culture, more and more couples choose to face the end of life together. For example, in some rural areas, the practice of couples participating in funerals has begun to be accepted, suggesting that social acceptance of traditional practices is gradually being relaxed. In addition, some public figures have also chosen to participate in the funeral in person when their spouses have died, and these examples have been widely reported in the media, further promoting a shift in social attitudes.
Obviously, this saying is being diluted in modern life, whether you participate in the funeral of your spouse or not, you should respect the emotional needs and choices of the individual, and should not be subject to unreasonable interference from the outside world. Promote the public's scientific understanding of death and funeral practices through education and awareness-raising, and reject superstitious practices that have no scientific basis. Emphasis should be placed on emotional care and psychological support for the families of the deceased to help them cope with the loss in a healthy way. While respecting traditional culture, according to the needs of modern society, appropriate reform and innovation should be carried out on funeral customs.
In the end, I would like to ask, do you think this sentence is reasonable? Do you pay attention to it in your local area? Welcome to leave a message and tell us your opinions.