MËNYRAT E KUMTIMIT TË VDEKJES
WAYS OF ANNOUNCING DEATH

Summary/Abstract: The rite of death, as part of the rites of the life cycle, is a rite that has prompted the interest of many researchers, both Albanian and foreign. This rite has been treated since early times. The rituals that have been practiced on the occasion of death in our tradition are numerous, they have been practiced by all population strata wherever Albanians have lived. They are generally the same, with some minor differences from one area to another. The practices for this rite are carried out continuously, starting with signs that herald death, practices to stop/prevent death, to ease the agony, post-death practices had occurred (such as arranging the corpse, lamentation and wailing), actions to prevent swift and sudden deaths in that house, burial of the deceased, days of condolences/consolation, mourning, days of commemoration: the seventh, the fortieth, a six-month anniversary, the one-year anniversary, etc. Within these practices, which are of particular importance within the death rite, is the announcement of death. If we look back at this practice, there are several ways in which the announcement of death was made, which have changed over time. Therefore, this paper will deal with the ways of announcing death in the Albanian tradition, starting from the earliest days to the present ones, focusing on each one separately.

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