The Famadihana ritual or ‘Turning of the bones’ is a practice followed by the people
of Madagascar.
Do you know: The origins of this ritual are only as old as the 17th century.
The Famadihana ritual takes place every 7 years, when the bones and bodies of the deceased members of a family are dug out of their crypts and are rewrapped in a piece of new cloth. Members dance with their dead people, music is played, animals are sacrificed and elders share the importance of their ancestors with their children, who are believed not to be departed until their bodies have completely decomposed.
