ancestor worship

American  

noun

Anthropology.

1. (in certain societies) the veneration of ancestors whose spirits are frequently held to possess the power to influence the affairs of the living.

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Etymology

Origin of ancestor worship

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Historically, you might say we are a religion of ancestor worship.

From The Wall Street Journal

From around 1640, as part of a push to ban Christianity, temples kept family registries of people in the neighborhood, creating a tradition of ancestor worship still observed today.

From Seattle Times

At some point before contact with Christians, ancestor worship was replaced by a religion centered around a “birdman.”

From Washington Times

“Chinese have that, too—ancestor worship, sweeping the graves in the springtime.”

From Literature

It is disquieting, then, when after many pages of lucid observations, she goes off the rails on the subject of ancestor worship — its ancient origins and modern incarnations.

From Los Angeles Times