Lonely Planet's Guide to Death, Grief and Rebirth shares life-affirming inspiration from cultures and communities from around the world

Lonely Planet has released a new and completely unique title, which takes a fresh approach to travel inspiration by revealing how cultures from around the world deal with life's only certainty, Death. Lonely Planet's Guide to Death, Grief and Rebirth illuminates 35 life-affirming traditions around death, grief, and rebirth, opening the conversation around death in an uplifting way. Author and dark travel expert Anita Isalska shares how global grieving customs which celebrate loved ones can help us live (and die) well.

The eye-catching book, offers real beauty within its pages, discussing a wide variety of customs from the Irish Wake or Mexico's Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) to Memento Mori photography and Tibetan Sky Burials. It sheds light on the rich tapestry of rituals and practices that have evolved across different societies, offering insights into how communities honor and remember the departed.

Lonely Planet's Guide to Death, Grief and Rebirth is divided into four key chapters: Celebrating, Commemorating, Mourning, and Offering, within these chapters readers will discover resting places, burials, rituals, and symbols that have been associated with death throughout time. Discussing life-affirming traditions, Isalska explores the evolving conversation of death in modern society, highlighting how people can seek help and support while navigating the grieving process. As well as places and festivals that can be visited to provide comfort and inspiration.

Cultural traditions from around the world include:

• The Irish Wake: A refuge where emotions – and whiskey – can flow. Throughout the night, plaintive songs and raucous games provide catharsis for a community united in grief.
• New Orleans Jazz Funerals: When joining the choir eternal, New Orleans provides the accompaniment, with a send-off of dancing, saxophones, and hallelujahs – from friends, family and perfect strangers.
• Korea's Cremation Beads: Created from crystallised ashes, shimmering strings of 'death beads' are a lustrous memorial keepsake for increasing numbers of Korean people – and for the bereaved all over the world.
• Ghana's Fantasy Coffins: Want to ride into the eternal sunset aboard an eagle, or in a bright yellow sports car? The makers of Ghana's fantasy coffins think outside the box, building caskets in every imaginable shape.
• Māori Mourning Ceremonies: Community ties are pulled tight when a Māori person dies. Through night vigils, cleansing rituals and a great feast, the deceased's smooth transition into the afterlife is assured.
• Bali's Cremation Ceremonies: Balinese Hindus free souls from their earthly bonds in elaborate cremation rituals – unforgettable spectacles that immolate the dead within huge, richly decorated bamboo towers, set ablaze and reduced to ash.
• Swedish Death Cleaning: Sparing heirs the burden of left belongings, the Swedish art of 'death cleaning' is the joy of leading a clutter-free life, and ensuring loved ones can avoid an almighty clean-up.

Readers will be taken on a global odyssey as this book shares special in-depth features that examine elements of death in greater detail including festivals and celebrations, remarkable catacombs, symbols of death and rebirth, and the world's most impressive tombs. Readers get to hear first-person accounts and essays from locals discussing their relationship and experiences with death.

Lonely Planet's Guide to Death, Grief and Re-birth is available from shop.lonelyplanet.com or where all good books are sold.

Price UK £19.99

ENDS

About Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet has been guiding travel for 50 years with a core belief that travel is for everyone.

A trusted voice in travel guidance, Lonely Planet is part of the Red Ventures portfolio, and has been dedicated to providing actionable inspiration for every kind of traveller since 1973,

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