The earthworm burial

Practicing grief with children? You can - by talking openly about the issues or planning an earthworm funeral together.

Earthworm burial: A guide

An earthworm burial is a ritual in which children practise dealing with death and saying goodbye in a playful way. The earthworm is buried according to all the rules of the art. The aim is to actively involve the participants (usually children) and let them realize their own ideas and visions for the funeral. Depending on age and interest, the ritual can be very short or more detailed. Sometimes an earthworm burial only takes a few minutes.

Procedure and questions about the design:

1. Preparation and planning:
   At the beginning, those involved collect suggestions together as to what should be included in the funeral. Here are some questions to help you personalize the funeral:

   • What was the earthworm's name and how did it die?
     Naming and clarifying what happened to the earthworm can form the beginning of the ritual.

   • Did the earthworm have friends who should be invited?
     It can be considered whether other children or "friends" of the earthworm should be invited to say goodbye.

   • What do the invitations or mourning cards look like?
     If desired, small invitations or self-designed mourning cards can be created.

2. Funeral rituals:
   The next step involves the concrete preparations for the funeral:

   • How should the earthworm be buried?
     Should the earthworm be placed in a small matchbox or perhaps symbolically wrapped in a leaf?

   • Did the earthworm have a special "religion"?
     This can be playfully addressed by asking whether the earthworm preferred certain traditions at the funeral, such as special packaging.

   • Who will give the eulogy? Should there perhaps be singing?
     A child or an adult can give a short speech, perhaps say something personal about the earthworm or sing a song.

3. Location and decoration:
   The location and design of the funeral offer many creative possibilities:

   • Where should the grave be?
     A beautiful spot in the garden, in a flower pot or in another symbolic place can be chosen as a grave.

   • Do we need floral decorations or a wreath?
     Small flowers, leaves or a handmade wreath can be used to decorate the grave.

4. Grave design:

   • Do we need a cross or a stone as a grave marker?
     A small cross made of sticks or a painted stone can serve as a marker for the grave.

   • What do we write on the ribbon or gravestone?
     Children can inscribe the gravestone or design a small ribbon with a personal message to the earthworm.

5. Last words and farewell:
   After the grave has been closed, the children can say a few last words. The farewell ritual can vary - sometimes a few words are enough, sometimes children want to linger longer.

Conclusion:

An earthworm funeral offers children the opportunity to practise farewell rituals and learn about death in a gentle setting. The ritual can be designed according to the needs and wishes of the children and should help them to deal with the topic in their own way.