Why do people light oil lamps before the coffin after death and can't put them out?

That lamp is the usual "ever-burning lamp". According to folklore, people have souls after death, and they are reluctant to leave home. The road to the underworld is dark and they don't want to go. If they stay at home for a long time, it will bring harm to their families, so people will light a lamp in front of his coffin to light their way to the underworld.

When the light goes out, they can't find their way, so they have to stay at home, which is not good. The coffin is usually taken out before burial or cremation. In rural areas, there is a rule called "three days to die", which means that people can't die until three days after death. During the three-day mourning period, a lamp will be placed in front of the memorial hall of the deceased. Because the lamp can't be put out, people call it "ever-burning lamp", and a lamp should be lit in front of the coffin. This behavior is called "beating Logger Vick"!

In rural areas, people think that after death, because of their love for their families, their souls will not go directly to the underworld, and the dead end is dark, so they are unwilling to set foot on that road, so they will stay at home. But after all, it's already dirty. After a long time, it will do harm to the family and bring bad luck. So people are lighting ever-burning lamps, illuminating dead ends and guiding them to leave home and die.

Therefore, the ever-burning lamps are also called "guiding lamps". Because it illuminates the road, the lights can't be put out during mourning. Moreover, the son or grandson of the deceased who lights a lamp symbolizes the prosperity of future generations! In fact, whether superstitious or not, this kind of behavior is a traditional funeral culture, a filial piety to the deceased and a wish to future generations.