What is ancestor veneration really about?
What You Were Probably Taught
You may have been told that any attention toward ancestors equals necromancy or idol worship.
The Historical Context
Many cultures maintain deep relationships with ancestors—Latinx communities celebrate Día de Muertos, Asian families tend ancestral altars, African diaspora traditions honor lineage, Indigenous peoples maintain ceremonial connections, and Celtic traditions acknowledge the thin veil between worlds. Colonial Christianity often labeled these practices as sinful to consolidate power and disconnect people from their roots.
Why It’s Safe to Be Curious
If you were raised in a religion that discouraged ancestor connection, exploring this practice can help you reconnect to your own lineage. Remembering those who paved the way anchors you in belonging. It can bring compassion and healing without invoking anything supernatural.
Cultural Respect Matters
If your heritage includes specific ancestor veneration practices (Latinx, Asian, African diaspora, Indigenous, etc.), those protocols are sacred and honored. This article doesn’t replace or reinterpret those traditions—it invites people who were disconnected from their lineage to explore reconnection in their own way.
A Simple First Step
Light a candle, say the name of someone you miss, and share a favorite memory aloud. This is about remembrance, not summoning.
Who Benefits From Your Fear?
When you feel disconnected from your roots, you’re easier to control. Reconnection builds resilience.
Research & Further Reading
Ancestor remembrance practices are supported by grief and identity research:
- Continuing Bonds in Bereavement - How healthy grief includes ongoing connection, not just “letting go” (Stroebe et al., 2010)
- The Role of Continuing Bonds - Review of how connection to deceased supports healing (Klass, 2014)
- Continuing Bonds After Loss by Suicide - Systematic review on maintaining relationships with those who’ve passed (Krysinska et al., 2022)
- Meaning-Making and Mental Wellbeing - How connection and meaning support psychological health (Westerhof & Keyes, 2023)