Ancestor-worship is a
religious practice based on the belief that one's ancestors possess
supernatural powers. All cultures attach ritual significance to the passing of loved ones, but this is not equivalent to ancestor worship. Rather, ancestor worship involves the same sort of religious practices one would expect to see when people appease or
supplicate other entities with supernatural powers, such as
gods,
angels,
saints, or
demons. While far from universal, ancestor worship is a common theme in various distinct cultures at every level of cultural development, and it remains an important component of various religious practices in modern times.