Tag: funeary
-
THE TRADITION OF THE RIDERLESS HORSE
The formality and haunting beauty of a funeral where a riderless horse, with the backwards facing boots in the stirrups, is being led along as part of the procession is always a striking image. I am often intrigued about the sources of these many traditions and find this one, in particular, very touching if not…
-
THE HANGING COFFINS OF SAGADA
The mysterious Hanging Coffins of Sagada located on Luzon Island in the Phillipines demonstrate the unique funerary traditions of the Igorot, an indigenous tribe from the area. The coffins, which are hung with ropes and wires, are suspended along limestone cliffs and have fascinated visitors for centuries. There are some interesting guidelines surrounding eligibility for…