Mourning Customs and History

Taking Pen in Hand

The Hairwork Bracelet A hairwork bracelet is materialized from the spirit world at Christmas.

A Casket 300 Feet Long A casket 300 feet long would be required to bring back the remains of all the US soldiers who died in the Great War in France.

Cremated Alive We fire up the retort as we look at the third of a terrifying triumvirate of Victorian death-fears:  being embalmed alive, dissected alive, and cremated alive.

Posing the Corpse Posing the corpse so the corpse can join in the fun of the wake or have a drink or accuse a malefactor or, simply as a joke.

The Silver Coffin of Genghis Khan Where is the Silver Coffin of Genghis Khan?

Called by the Dead The living are called by the dead to join them, even if it means committing suicide. The dead can be so demanding…

Old Jokes’ Home Celebrating Tell an Old Joke Day with Victorian gallows humor, cholera jokes, puns, and heartlessness.

Detritus of the Dead Mourners of the past used the detritus of the dead–personal artifacts and mementos–to make mourning wreaths.