Celebration of Life [TBT]

Guys, it’s Throwback Thursday again, and I’m happy to share with you all an unforgettable memory: a funeral I attended for a woman who lived for 115 years.

Not many people like attending funerals, and I belong to this category of people. I sympathize and mourn with the bereaved, but I just can’t bring myself to watch as someone I once knew is lowered 6 feet. I already have beautiful memories of this person, adding sad images from the funeral would only make it harder for me. My refusal to not attend funerals does not make sense to a lot of people, but it definitely does not come from a place of hate but from a place of pain which I am not brave enough to keep at bay.

Just like many other funerals that I have politely declined to attend, I was just about to politely decline this one too, but before I was given a chance to say a word, I was quickly informed by my friend that the funeral wasn’t going to be a sad one but a celebration of life.

The deceased was 115 years old when she died, and her entire family from different parts of the world were coming back home to celebrate a life well spent.
Upon hearing the details of the funeral I decided to attend. The deceased was my friend’s grandma.

From my friend’s explanation, I thought the funeral was going to be a small one, but it turned out to be something else.

I went to the venue on that day expecting the usual funeral process only for me to be informed that it was a social dance.

A social dance is a dance ceremony that is held to honour the life and achievements of the deceased. The social dance is held on a Saturday right after the deceased has being laid to rest.
Family and friends party to their heart's content as it helps to ease their pain too.

For someone who had never attended a social dance before, attending one that day was spectacular and it exceeded my expectations.

People showed up in their different cultural outfits, looking dashing and ready to send grandma home.

The hall for the event was decorated to perfection, leaving no room for error, it was truly a beautiful sight to behold.

The media team were on standby, capturing all the beautiful moments

All the family members had to take turns to dance, each group coming on stage with their friends and well-wishers. It was called a social dance for a reason as everyone came correct!

There was so much to eat, drink, and beautiful souvenirs to go home with.

The highlight of the social dance was Grandma’s NGO, which was founded to support women and children.

The social dance wasn’t a small gathering of family members and friends, it was a full blown concert and surprisingly I enjoyed it.
There were no tears, no regrets, and no bitterness, just sending grandma home in the most graceful way.

_{All images are mine except otherwise stated.}

Thanks for stopping by
Loads of Love🥰🥰
XOXO