By Jeanette Stehr-Green

Many religions and cultures have celebrations to honor those who have died well after their bodies have been cremated or buried. These observances are usually anchored in history and steeped with rituals and traditions.

Here are just a few of the ways people around the world celebrate the dead.

All Saints’ Day

All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows’ Day or the Feast of All Saints) originated in the early Christian church to celebrate the departed faithful who were in Heaven with God. Prior to that time, only canonized saints (i.e., individuals declared with certainty by the church as being in the presence of God) were celebrated, usually on the anniversary of their death (known as their feast date).

The growing number of Christian martyrs during the Roman p

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