“PLAČIMO, PLAČIMO U TIŠINI, UMRIMO, UMRIMO U SAMOĆI”: PROMJENE PRAKSI TUGOVANJA I POGREBA U VRIJEME PANDEMIJE BOLESTI COVID-19
“HUSH, WEEP IN SILENCE. LET US WEEP AND LET US DIE. WE’LL DIE ALONE”: CHANGES IN MOURNING AND FUNERAL PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Summary/Abstract: In the pandemic, death has become more frequent and common in everyday life, making its perception and experience more intense. Everyday reports on the number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the age, gender and place of death of the deceased, made death more ubiquitous and noticeable in our everyday life. The process of dying, coping with death and grieving during the pandemic poses numerous challenges. Official anti-epidemic measures encompass a number of rules concerning treatment of the deceased. In addition to guidelines for healthcare workers, changes have been instituted in relation to funerals and memorial services. The new rules limit the number of participants, and prohibited certain rites and practices connected with death and the body of the deceased. This paper presents an analysis of the current regulations in the Republic of Croatia, focusing on whether they take into account culturally specific practices as well as funeral rites and traditions. The recommendations included holding a quiet funeral limited to the immediate family only, and mourning in solitude and isolation. This led to changes in funeral rites and traditions and in grieving patterns. Using qualitative methodology and approaches, we present the experiences and feelings of people who experienced death and funerals of their loved ones during the COVID-19 epidemic and lockdown in Croatia (from 20 March until 6 May). The grieving family members accepted the new rules and adapted to them by modifying their grieving process and by introducing new practices. Dying and mourning in solitude were indicated as most controversial, and the lack of familiar rites, traditions and grieving practices led to a feeling of uncertainty and even guilt by the grieving family members.

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