Funeral traditions in Ukraine: Why clothing of deceased never kept at home

Clothing as a talisman and symbol

In the traditional culture of Ukrainians, clothing was an integral part of the funeral ritual. It was meant to protect a person in the afterlife, so the deceased was always dressed in clean and new attire.

It was believed that the "old life" was left behind, and "clean clothing" helped to cross into another world.

Why clothing was not left at home

Items worn by the deceased during their lifetime were not kept in the house, as they were thought to carry the energy of death. In many villages, clothing was given as alms to the poor or distributed among relatives so that the soul of the deceased would gain more "merit." Sometimes clothing was burned to break the connection with the deceased.

Alms and redistribution

Some belongings were given to the church for the needs of orphans or widows. This was considered a good deed on behalf of the deceased, which would help their soul in "the other world."

In some regions, relatives deliberately divided clothing among children or close family members so that "the memory would remain in the family."

Prohibitions and warnings

In Ukrainian tradition, there were strict prohibitions – it was forbidden to wear the belongings of the deceased in everyday life, especially shoes or underwear. This could "attract death" or illness. Wearing such items was only allowed during memorial rituals.

Modern echoes

Today, many families still give away the clothing of the deceased to the needy or donate it to churches. In some villages, certain items are still burned, especially shoes, which are considered the strongest conduit between worlds.

You may also be interested in:

• Forbidden holidays of Ukraine: How traditions survived Soviet repression

• Ukrainian funeral traditions: Foods and drinks with symbolic meaning

Sources: Ethnography, Wikipedia, Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.