Workshop Reflection: Bringing New Life to Traditional Rituals
I recently hosted a workshop to explore how personalised designs can work with traditional Chinese funeral practices. It was a very meaningful experience, and I want to share some of my reflections.
One big thing I learned was how personalising ritual objects can create stronger emotional connections. Instead of using the usual standard offerings, participants designed and burned their own objects. This made the whole process more personal and real.
It felt like this kind of approach makes the rituals less “rigid” and more meaningful, especially for younger people like us. By adding personal touches, the mourning process becomes a way to express emotions, not just a task to complete.
Before the workshop, some participants shared that they thought traditional funerals were very formal and strict. This made it hard for them to see these rituals as flexible or personal.
But after trying out personalised designs, they felt that funerals could have more creative and meaningful expressions. This really opened my eyes to how younger generations might want to reinterpret funeral traditions in their own way.
The burning of paper offerings is a very important part of Chinese culture, but during the discussions, we realised this kind of practice could work in other cultures too.
Still, I also noticed some limitations. For example, cultural traditions are very strong, and not everyone might accept new ideas right away. This is something I’ll need to think about more in the future—how to make designs that respect both tradition and personal expression.
Final Thoughts
This workshop made me believe that personalised designs can bring new life to traditional funeral practices. It’s a way to make these rituals more meaningful for individuals while keeping the cultural roots.
It also reminded me that this is just the beginning. There’s so much more to explore about how traditions can grow and adapt with us.
If you were to burn or “deposit” something for yourself or a loved one in the afterlife, what would it be? I’d love to hear your thoughts!