Category: History & Art
Keepers of Culture: The Sacred History and Art of Caring for Black Deceased Bodies
When we were brought to America as slaves, our sacred rituals and practices were stripped from us, particularly those pertaining to the care of our dead. Today, funeral and death care professionals can become empowered to renew balance while paying homage to the originators of our sacred practices.
Contemplation of a Decaying Corpse: The Japanese Art of Kusôzu
Kusōkan means ‘contemplation of the nine stages of a decomposing corpse’ and is the reflection on the repulsiveness of the body. But remember, this was no mere gore porn, the artistic intention was spiritual enlightenment.
Funeral Traditions from Ireland: How the Irish Embrace Death
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Today is the anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick. We celebrate his Feast Day, which loosely translates to people drinking (too much) green beer and wearing green clothing, pretending to be stereotypically Irish. We have briefly written about Irish death rituals in the past. But today we wanted to dig …
Dead Houses: Burying the Dead in Frozen Ground
Have you ever wondered how it is possible to dig a 6ft grave when the ground is frozen solid? In the dead of winter, what do we do with our dead?
Anti-Claus Traditions and Christmas Witches, Oh My!
Anti-Claus traditions exist to remind us that there is still darkness out there in the cold winter night despite how comfortable and safe we may feel.
Christmas Death Traditions
Not all Christmas traditions are made up of wholesome carolling and milk and cookies. Cultures from around the world all have their own unique ways to celebrate Christmas, and we have rounded up some of the more macabre festive celebrations for you to enjoy! From visiting family graves, to dead birds and trapping witches in …
Crime Scene Photography: A Complicated History
Since the creation of the modern police force, a number of technologies have been used to solve crimes. Police have utilized everything from DNA, fingerprint analysis and UV light, to psychics and telepathy. However, as our history of crime scene photography shows, no forensics technology has stood the test of time as well as the …
Race & The Funeral Profession: What Jessica Mitford Missed
When Jessica Mitford criticized the funeral profession, Dr. Kami Fletcher argues that it wasn’t the African American funeral director Mitford had in mind.