Ancestor worship is prevalent throughout Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific, even among those who have converted to Islam or Christianity. These believers see no conflict in continuing to respect their own family saints. Such worship can also be found in India and Indochina. This broadens the concept considerably but not illogically. Jewish people light candles and say special prayers on the anniversary of the death of a close family member.
Christians celebrate All Souls' Day.
Putting gifts and flowers on the graves of the family dead is probably the oldest universal human religious gesture and is still a sign of ancestor respect. These practices, which are followed by members of modern societies as well as those who practice ancient cultural traditions, indicate a belief that at some level people continue to exist after they have died. This is the link between ancestor worship and ancestor respect. The Learning Company, Inc.