Ukrainian Traditional and Modern Beliefs about Death and Preparation for it

Relevance. The theme of death and preparation for it occupies a special place in the traditional worldview of Ukrainians and remains one of the least transformed spheres of folk culture. In the context of contemporary social changes, particularly wartime losses among both military personnel and the civilian population of Ukraine, reflection on traditional and modern perceptions of death acquires particular scholarly and social significance, as it contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of collective memory, identity, and psychological adaptation to loss. Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze traditional and contemporary Ukrainian perceptions of death, the afterlife, and human preparation for the transition from life to death, as well as to identify the worldview, religious, and sociocultural factors that ensure the persistence of funerary ritual practices and conceptions of the afterlife. Methods. The study is based on the use of empirical and theoretical methods applied in ethnology and other humanities, including analysis, synthesis, the historical-comparative method, and the descriptive method. The research draws on ethnographic studies of the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries, folklore materials (primarily proverbs and sayings), contemporary oral testimonies, and media sources. The interpretative method made it possible to reveal the symbolic and worldview-related significance of funerary practices and the beliefs associated with them. Results. It has been established that perceptions of death and funerary practices in the Ukrainian tradition constitute some of the most stable and conservative elements of culture, especially in rural settings. The study analyzes folk concepts of a «good» and a «bad» death, as well as the role of Christian religiosity and the cult of ancestors in shaping attitudes toward the deceased. Particular attention is paid to practices of preparing for death during one’s lifetime, including the preparation of a «death bundle», the advance making of a coffin, the composition of funeral scenarios, and the erection of gravestones and writing of epitaphs while still alive. Conclusions. The article concludes that preparation for death during one’s lifetime and the preservation of traditional funerary ritual practices perform not only practical but also important psychological and worldview functions, facilitating the acceptance of the inevitability of death and the reduction of existential anxiety. Funerary practices emerge as a significant mechanism of collective memory and cultural continuity that adapts to new historical conditions while preserving its core meanings. The results obtained may be used in further ethnological, cultural, and interdisciplinary studies of death and traditional Ukrainian worldview concepts.