What is done simply because it has always been done? What actions or ceremonies transcend time and history and have always been?

In my world (known as Edoba) it has to do with the dead. With very few exceptions everyone dies eventually. Death is hard on all parties involved both emotionally and spiritually.

Death begins with with an announcement, at the first dawn after the deceased is discovered dead. Usually this announcement is made by a child or close friend of the dead in the center of the community most important to the dead, this could be the town square, the High Court of Nobles, or the fishmongers market, everyone's community is different. The announcement varies from person to person but consists of an open prayer to the god of death calling him to retrieve the soul of the dead and take it to the afterlife, the concludes with a promise of payment.

After the announcement the family seeks out a piece of electrum, the electrum will serve as payment to the god of death because it is one of the few things the gods cannot create, and for that reason it serves as the divine currency of the Gods. The electrum may be natural or forged but it is often crafted into a coin or ring and placed in the mouth of the dead. The thinking is that when they awaken in the ethereal world and attempt to answer the god of the dead the payment will fall out of their mouth before they can say anything to offend the god.

After the electrum token is placed many last rights and preservation tactics for the body differ from race to race and the cultural subgroups within.

With Humans after the coin is placed in the mouth the lips are sewn shut and the body is drained of blood. The draining is preformed by a cleric for the god of the dead through the femoral or radial artery. The body is wrapped in cloth, blue or green for women, red or brown for men. Children in white. Purple or lavender for royalty and nobility, yellow for heros or military, and black for criminals. The body is placed o. Display for three days and nights where the announcement was made, then ignited and burned to ash (occasionally being moved if the cremation process would be a danger to others)

Elves cloth their departed in fine clothes, if the dead was poor or did not own any fine clothes some are donated, made, or purchased. As creatures of the woods the body's of dead elves are returned to the earth, buried with flowers and fruits of bright and vibrant colors. In a hand placed over the breast is a seed from the tree in which the elf was born. The family will enter a period of "Kavéahä", or "Century of Mourning" where the grave of the dead is tended to and the seedling protected and cultivated until it becomes a strong tree able to stand on it's own.

Dwarves view the Dead as in their most weak state, the old saying goes "even a baby can cry for aid, but the dead are silent as stone" they are outfitted in armor, often as a entrance to adulthood a dwarf crafts a set of armor, and while their skills may yet improve this set is kept if at the very least for sentimental purpose. A dwarf who dies without armor is dressed in the most sturdy clothing that can be found. More wealthy dwarves are given weapons and shields. Nobility or dwarves with substantial influence may be buried with guards who chose to commit a ritualistic suicide in order to defend their Lord or Friend even in death.

I'm interested to hear your world's most ancient practices and traditions, as well as any commentary you have on mine