One of the many beautiful things about the world we live in is the abundance of different cultures, all of which have their unique traditions and customs. We differ in the ways we celebrate milestones, but also in the ways that we mourn our losses. Some of these customs and traditions haven’t changed in centuries, and today we will take a look at a particularly interesting aspect of Australian Aboriginal cultures that has a deeply rooted history and tradition.
Australian Aboriginal cultures have many important traditions that are upheld to this day, but only a few of them can compare in significance to the concept of “Sorry Business”. This concept holds a deep cultural and spiritual meaning that encompasses rituals, ceremonies, and protocols that may vary between different local Indigenous tribes, clans, and communities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
So, what is Sorry Business? Let’s find out!
What is Sorry Business?
In simplest terms, Sorry Business is a time of mourning in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It refers to the cultural norms, protocols, and ceremonies observed after an Aboriginal person passes away. It is traditionally a time of mourning, respect, and healing for a wider community, not just the relatives of the deceased.
Aboriginal people believe that the deceased person’s spirit continues its journey and that marking of this passage with appropriate rituals will guarantee a peaceful transition to the afterlife while at the same time offering support to the living in coping with their loss. This cultural concept and protocols are also known by other names such as Dadirri, Ngangkari, or Kulama, depending on the Aboriginal tribe or clan.
How long does Sorry Business last?
The duration of Sorry Business can and does vary greatly depending on the tribe, clan, age and importance of the deceased within the community. It can last anywhere from a few days to even a few months in the cases of some of the most highly regarded members of the community. Regardless of the duration, Sorry Business will usually consist of four distinct phases.
The immediate mourning period begins as soon as the person passes away. This phase usually includes only the immediate family and close relatives who engage in wailing, painting the body with ochre, and other mourning customs that honor the deceased and express their grief.
The initial mourning period is followed by public ceremonies. In this period the whole community engages in ceremonies that often involve dances, songs, and rituals that celebrate the deceased person’s life and acknowledge their passing on.
After the public ceremonies, there’s usually a secondary mourning period during which the community will adhere to certain restrictions and observances, that allow them to slowly transition back to normal activities while still remembering and respecting the memory of their lost member.
Final rites are the last stage of Sorry Business. This stage consists of various ceremonies that serve as closure for the community. During these ceremonies, different rituals will be performed to ensure the spirit of their loved one is properly laid to rest.
Who participates in Sorry Business?
Sorry Business doesn’t include just the immediate family, but the whole community, because
Aboriginal societies are deeply interconnected through kinship and spiritual beliefs, and the loss of one member deeply affects everyone in the community. Friends, neighbors, colleagues, and everyone who had a relationship with the deceased can and, more often than not, will participate in the different phases of the mourning ceremonies and rituals.
Elders within the community will preside over the rituals and ceremonies, making sure that cultural protocols passed down through generations are followed throughout all phases of Sorry Business.
What are some of these ceremonies?
Smoking ceremony is a very important part of Sorry Business. It’s used to cleanse the area and ward off bad spirits which is all done to help the deceased’s transition to the afterlife. Eucalyptus leaves are burned and the smoke is wafted over the deceased’s body, the land, and the mourners. Eucalyptus is used because this plant holds great cultural significance.
Ceremonial painting is also done during Sorry Business. Mourners usually use ochre, a naturally occurring clay pigment, which they sometimes mix with ashes from the ceremonial fire, to paint their bodies with specific patterns and symbols as a mark of grief and respect. These symbols can vary depending on many factors like tribal affiliations and personal relationships.
Conclusion
Aboriginal Sorry Business is a mourning process that follows the passing away of a member of the Aboriginal community. This process follows ancestral traditions and spiritual beliefs through different rituals and ceremonies that are designed to help the transition to the afterlife as well as helping the relatives and community process their loss and get closure.
The different rituals and ceremonies can vary between different communities and often depend on the status of the deceased, which will also influence the duration of Sorry Business.
Sorry Business continues to honor the past, support the present, and guide the future of Aboriginal communities.
