Cultural roots of some funeral habits in maghreb societies : symbolic images aimed at facing the fear of death

Abstract EN

In this article, we discuss the common and widespread social and cultural funeral customs among the societies of the Arab Maghreb countries, and their historical origins that go beyond the dominant religion (Islam) to certain customs inherited from paganism, Christianity and even Judaism.

The study relied on the method of qualitative analysis, and the observation with participation of the rituals and customs prevailing in the aforementioned societies, and concluded that these rituals have a human origin, which is the expression of the anguish and fear of death, which remains a secret that has not been revealed and the verification of life after death.

We have also concluded that these rituals are an attempt to overcome this fear by adopting symbolic customs that take place during mourning and burial ceremonies.