Even though the 21st century may be recognized as a spectacular death mentality’s period, the current situation of mourning and accepting death in Lithuania marks a significant number of ‘your death’ mentality’s features. Whilst the situation is gradually changing and the perception of death is becoming more similar to the one that is common in the Western Europe, the more conservative part of the society still follows the deeply rooted traditions of long death ceremonies. 

The early days of a Lithuanian funeral are dedicated to the presentation of the deceased in a coffin in a funeral home. During this period family, friends and even acquaintances of the deceased come to say the last goodbye. The coffin is left open throughout the whole three-day ceremony and is only closed the last day before the burial.

The first signs of the ‘your death’ mentality occur in the mourning culture in Lithuania. The reconciliation with death for most people becomes the substantial hardship. The lack of acceptance of death can also be recognized from the long ceremonies of saying goodbye. It takes up to three days of mourning and expressing great grief near the beloved’s coffin.  As Aries has described, ‘certainly the expression of sorrow by survivors is owing to a new intolerance of separation’. It is clear that the death of the other is more feared than the death of oneself. People struggle to let go of the deceased one and usually even after the funeral they gather to celebrate the monthly anniversary of the death and express a yet remaining very grave wound.

Subsequently, this intolerance of separation leads to the memory cult. People in Lithuania use tombs, graves, and cemeteries as signs of the presence of the deceased ones. Additionally, a funeral ceremony is held by the relatives and it usually requires investments in the deceased’s costume and embalming, preparation of the coffin, rent of the room in a funeral house, a place for burial in the cemetery, tombstone, and many other burial services. Throughout the years the cost of the aforementioned ceremony has risen and yet these services and products still remain widely consumed due to the deeply rooted funeral and burial culture in the country. The investment in a funeral ceremony can be seen as a sign of paying tribute to the deceased. 

Overall, regarding the dramatic expression of grief and the long funeral ceremonies, it is clear that regardless of the current period, the funeral situation in Lithuania perfectly depicts the ‘your death’ mentality.