Martina Hupková

Abstract

This paper presents the funeral ceremony as one of the factors helping to preservenetworks and relationships among families in the countryside. The development of family relationshipsin the countryside is discussed on the basis of an analysis of attendance at funeralceremonies in model areas of the Czech countryside. The precise forms assumed by funeralceremonies (church funeral vs. civil funeral, funeral without ceremony, attendance, associatedtraditions) differ in relation to culture on the state, regional and local levels as well. The differentiationto forms of funeral ceremony and burial processes depends on a number of factors,of which the main ones are religiosity rate and community size at regional level and traditionat local level. In the Czech regions, mainly in the countryside, the extraordinary attendanceat funeral ceremonies is typical. Attendance at a funeral ceremony via a representative of thefamily is considered a social duty. This tradition of family get-togethers for funeral ceremonieshas been maintained from generation to generation. Through it families that may now bescattered are able to keep together the network of relationships of inhabitants in countryside.

Keywords: network, family, burial, necrogeography, countryside, Czechia

Martina Hupková, Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, CZ-12843 Prague, Czechia