ancestor worship

English - English

Definition of ancestor worship in English English dictionary

worship of ancestors

Religious beliefs or practices that involve addressing prayers or offerings to the spirits of dead relatives. It existed among the ancient Greeks, other Mediterranean peoples, and the ancient Europeans; it also plays a major role in traditional African religions. The dead are related to the family, clan, tribe, or village; mythical ancestors may be included. They may be friendly, or they may be displeased and require propitiation. Commemorative ceremonies are sometimes held at graves or monuments and may include prayers, offerings, sacrifices, and festivals of honor. Worship of individual ancestors is common; it may be combined with communal forms of worship, as in the case of the Roman emperor cult. An ancestor whose deeds are heroic may attain the status of a god. In China and Japan, ancestor worship (more accurately, ancestor reverence) has declined with the decline in the size and importance of kinship groups

religious practice in which dead family members are venerated due to the belief that their spirits can influence the lives of the living

Hyphenation

an·ces·tor Wor·ship

Turkish pronunciation

änsestır wırşıp

Pronunciation

/ˈanˌsestər ˈwərsʜəp/ /ˈænˌsɛstɜr ˈwɜrʃəp/