UPCOMING EVENTS
for
ENRICHMENT
of
END-OF-LIFE LEARNING
WELCOME!
Wednesday, October 21, 7:00-8:15 pm, EDT
SUNSET CAFETERIA
A sunset cafeteria is like a death cafe conversation, but begins with the introduction of a topic as food for thought. The menu for nourishing group interaction about end-of-life issues is diversified. Though one pre-selected subject serves as a catalyst for discussion, at any time the focus can shift to spontaneous comments reflecting whatever is on the minds of participants.
Springboard topic of the day:
Examining the Bones of Halloween
Is this haunting holiday a deterrent to death acceptance
or is it an opportunity
to weaken resistance to death contemplation?
How can Halloween help us overcome
aversive perceptions of death?
Consider the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead that celebrates the lives of deceased loved ones. In a joyful spirit, families unite to build altars, share favorite foods, and pause to reflect on the lives of their dear ones. The tenor is more celebratory in the context of death.
Samhain (sah-vin), a Celtic tradition, marks the end of the harvest season and ushers in the “darker half” of the year. Rather than fearing what lies beyond, this festival honors ancestors and celebrates the cyclical nature of life and death.
Those festivities highlight the importance of celebrating the people who have died, promoting unbridled conversations about death and the afterlife, while acknowledging the natural cycles of existence. The fun of the occasion is akin to our Halloween happenings, but without promoting a fear of death.
​
​
​
How can the American society’s ostensible festival of frights pose a learning opportunity for children,
a springboard for education and discussion to reduce the fear of death?
"Because Oct. 31 is often a child's first explicit exposure to the imagery of mortality, it serves as a unique cultural sandbox for processing an otherwise taboo topic. These traditions offer a unique lens through which we can teach children about this profound ubject." (Brian Smith) The holiday offers a chance to transform our society's narrative about death.
Please plan to have your camera turned on, as this will primarily be a discussion with face-to-face interaction rather than a presentation.
Registration:
