Paper short abstract:

COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted funeral ritual practices in Europe and Slovenia, with strict regulations on visits and limits on attendees causing difficulties for families and altering traditional farewell rituals.

Paper long abstract:

In Europe and Slovenia, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted funeral rituals and mourning practices. Hospitals have imposed strict regulations on visits, making it difficult for families to be present with their loved ones during the end of their lives and say goodbye in person, adding to emotional distress and uncertainty. Governments have also imposed strict limits on the number of people who can attend funerals, resulting in many families turning to virtual funerals, prioritizing cremation over burial, and simplifying funeral services while limiting or canceling traditional rituals such as visitations and wakes.

The pandemic has also made it difficult for people to meet their basic need of touch, as many governments have implemented social distancing measures. This made it challenging for people to maintain physical contact with loved ones, especially those who are vulnerable or in quarantine or isolation. This lack of touch had a negative impact on mental and emotional well-being, forcing people to find new ways to connect and get the touch they need.

Overall, our field and media research shows, that the pandemic has greatly impacted traditional funeral and mourning ritual practices, causing emotional distress and limiting people's ability to bid farewell to their loved ones and to mourn in the traditional way, forcing many families to adapt and make changes to traditional funeral practices.