The Grateful Dead

In the tiny spanish village of Las Nieves in Galicia,Spain, close to the portuguese border, a strange ritual takes place on July 29th each year. As part of the Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme (named after the patron saint of resurrection, Santa Marta de Ribarteme, the sister of Lazarus), people who have had near-death experiences in the past year are placed in open coffins and paraded through the village following a statue of Santa Marta. Privately, quietly and reverently, some intone the hymn of the day: “Virgin Santa Marta, star of the north, we bring you those who have seen death and survived and stared into her eyes and been spared.” It is thought that the Near Death festival began in the 12th century. Some believe it was an attempt by the Catholic Church to adapt to deeply-ingrained pagan rites. There are always empty coffins standing in the church; those who take part in procession donate them to the local community. They are for people who can’t afford to be buried. So they can “die well”.