Dalish: Death Rites

Dalish respect life and death equally, the elves weaving their entire philosophy around these two; one cannot simply exist without the other. Thus, there is a certain sacred procedure- known as their Dalish Death Rites- that is followed when Falon’Din guides one of their people to the Beyond, the realm where dead dwell. When a Dalish elf ceases breathing, ultimately defeated by their mortality, the elves take the body and prepare it for its journey to the dead. They clean it, applying multiple aromas and dress the deceased person in their usual outfit, a reminder of who they used to be. Then, a night’s time is given for the clan to bid their friend farewell prior they bury the body. During the burial, ancient Dalish songs are being sung but they differ from the usual mourning tone with which humans tend to accompany their burial ceremonies. Dalish perceive death as a natural part of life.

The Death Rite is concluded when a tree is planted just above the grave. This action serves as a remembrance of how life goes on and of how the death of one fuels the life of another. It is to be noted though that, in Arlathan, ancient elves used to merely bury their dead. It is believed that Dalish adopted that recent custom of theirs due to the fact that they no longer stand as immortals among the world of the living. The planting of the tree is considered a way of continuing life in the face of slow extinction since the elvhen have lost their past glory and they have become as vulnerable as the human race. The tree symbolizes their flickering hope for their way of life, their culture and people to withstand the never-ending time.