47: MARRY MY DEAD BODY | Ghost Marriage Practices Around the World

The Gods Must Be Crazy: A Philippine Mythology Podcast

47: MARRY MY DEAD BODY | Ghost Marriage Practices Around the World

We’ve all heard stories of love living on after death, but is it possible for love to BEGIN after death?

In this episode, we veer slightly off the beaten path and explore the little-known practice of Ghost Marriage. Finding its roots in ancient China and India, you would be surprised to learn that the practice still lives on in various forms to this day: in provinces in rural China and India and in Chinese diaspora communities around the world.

How exactly can a marriage take place when both parties are no longer living? How does one go about finding a match in the afterlife? How can a practice meant to ensure the happiness of departed loved ones lead to greed, grave-robbery, and even murder?

—

The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

—

References/Further Reading:

https://www.ancient-origins.net/weird-facts/posthumous-marriage-0018586

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/ghost-marriages-love-living-and-deceased-003658

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d33ez/dead-babies-married-decades-after-their-deaths-india

https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vey8/livestream-ghost-marriage

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37103447

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/04/china-imprisons-men-ghost-marriage-corpse-bride

https://coconuts.co/singapore/features/secret-city-have-you-been-to-a-ghost-wedding-in-singapore/

The Ghost Bride Book: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/16248223

The Ghost Bride Series (Netflix): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9690302/

The Ghost Bride Film (Philippines): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7582830/

Marry My Dead Body Film (Netflix): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22742964/

Note/s: While Marry My Dead Body (2022 Film) does indeed feature queer themes, it is, sadly, more of a comedy than a romance. Yeah, we know, we’re disappointed, too.