Next: about 15 Jul to 12 Sept 2027
Famadihana
The Malagasy turning of the bones: families bring ancestors from the tomb, wrap them in fresh cloth, and dance with them.
When is Famadihana in 2027?
Famadihana 2027 runs from 15 July to 12 September 2027. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2026, 15 July to 12 September 2026; 2028, 15 July to 12 September 2028.
About Famadihana
Famadihana, the "turning of the bones", is a funerary tradition of the Merina and Betsileo peoples of the Madagascar highlands. In the dry season, between about June and September, a family opens the tomb of its ancestors, brings out the bodies, which have been wrapped in cloth, and re-wraps them in fresh silk shrouds, called lamba mena, while telling them the news of the family. The remains are carried or danced around the tomb to the sound of brass bands, music, and the family and village join in with feasting, speeches and dancing. Many see it as a joyful reunion rather than mourning, and a way to keep the connection between the living and the dead. The practice is taught as part of Malagasy heritage, and each family chooses its own date.
Famadihana dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Famadihana date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 July to 12 September 2026 |
| 2027 | 15 July to 12 September 2027 |
| 2028 | 15 July to 12 September 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is eaten
- rice
- zebu meat
- rum
Also part of it, and being written: Merina people (The people of the highlands.), Lamba (The cloth shroud.), Ancestor veneration (The wider belief.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Famadihana" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.