A cross cultural connection of altar tables…
Remembering our loved ones is something we do in every human experience. How we do this may differ.
At a Chicago Mexican restaurant with a dear friend of mine, I took the photo to the left because it reminded me so much of the altar tables of East Asia that are familiar to me, in the image to the right.
Upon Veterans Day recently, I saw the top image on Facebook and instantly saw a connection between the cultures. The configuration may be different, but the human expression of inner feelings is the same. This Missing Man Table display is not only poignant and heartwarming at the same time, but also comforting and expressive of the empty space inside all of us who grieve for a loved one.
I learned that there’s a tradition of setting up this Missing Man Table detailed by The War Memorial Center. It’s a recipe for love, so to speak, whereby with the help of the Internet, people across the states could replicate such an endearing way to honor someone who we wish to see again.
Chinese and East Asian altar tables serve a similar function. In the space of a blog, I cannot address the finer intricacies of the cultural messages. One thing for certain is that in the US, dedicated, elaborate altar tables as seen above are less common in Asian American homes. Instead, a photo of the loved one on the mantel with some incense burning occasionally would be more common.
In my blogs, as in my Zoom and in person programs, I enjoy bringing cultures and peoples together. After we understand the belief systems behind the cultural practice or behavior, then, we can begin to appreciate each other for our differences.
