{"id":961,"date":"2025-04-02T10:41:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T15:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/?p=961"},"modified":"2025-04-17T15:24:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T20:24:52","slug":"what-expressions-of-sympathy-looks-like-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/what-expressions-of-sympathy-looks-like-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"What Expressions of Sympathy Looks Like Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sympathy is one of those human experiences that transcends borders, but how do we show it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where things get interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You send flowers. I drop off lasagna. Someone else lights a candle, shares a prayer, or shows up in silence with zero expectations of conversation. Around the world, cultures have developed their own deeply rooted ways of expressing sympathy, and no, there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a brief tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United States<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the U.S., sympathy cards, casseroles, and floral arrangements are the go-tos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might hear phrases like \u201cThey\u2019re in a better place\u201d or \u201cLet me know if you need anything,\u201d which may or may not be followed up on (hey, we’re trying). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a tendency to want to \u201cfix\u201d grief quickly, which is heartfelt but sometimes misses the mark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, the intention is solid: offer comfort, give space, and bring carbs. Good comfort food helps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, expressions of sympathy are quiet and formal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s customary to bring condolence money (k\u014dden), presented in a specific type of envelope, and say very little. There\u2019s an emphasis on respect and modesty. For example, a bowed head conveys more than words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grief is honored in an understated, dignified way, which makes sense in a culture that values harmony and social order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mexico<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Mexico, grief and celebration often go hand in hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marigolds, candles, and altars for D\u00eda de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The grieving process is communal, and remembrance is lively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing stories, music, and food with loved ones is a way to keep the departed\u2019s memory alive, not hidden away in a box of tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana<\/strong>
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Funerals in Ghana are major events with bright colors, music, and big gatherings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re seen as a final celebration of the person\u2019s life and are sometimes held weeks after a death to allow time to plan a proper send-off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the grief is real, the event leans toward uplifting rather than somber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jewish Tradition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Jewish mourning customs, the practice of shiva<\/em> invites friends and family to gather for seven days of remembrance and celebration of a life lived. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirrors are covered, meals are brought in, and the focus is on support, not distraction. Sympathy here is structured, intentional, and deeply rooted in community, and expressed with an abundance of food, like deli meats, bagels, salads, and baked goods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shivas are the perfect combination of mourning and meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter where you are in the world, one thing is clear: sympathy is all about connection. Whether spoken, sung, cooked, or silently shared, expressing care in the face of loss is a universal language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

🙏 SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT 🙏<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The loss of a loved one is tough, so we try to make the grieving process a little easier with our Deepest Sympathy Gift Basket<\/a>. This package is geared at soothing the soul and filling the heart (and stomach) with: Claey’s hard candy; Pirouline wafer rolls; Cashews; Salmon pate; Monet crackers; J&M cookies; Jelly Bellys, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About BasketWorks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BasketWorks is a woman-owned gift basket company located in the north suburbs of Chicago (specifically Northbrook, IL) since 1997. We are proud to offer a variety of gifts and gift baskets appropriate for all occasions. Each of our packages is built to order, allowing for customization at no additional cost to our clients. Contact us today<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please subscribe to our blog post and follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Threads<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sympathy is one of those human experiences that transcends borders, but how do we show it?  That\u2019s where things get interesting. You send flowers. I drop off lasagna. Someone else lights a candle, shares a prayer, or shows up in silence with zero expectations of conversation. Around the world, cultures have developed their own deeply […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/961"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=961"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":972,"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/961\/revisions\/972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.79gifts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}