Another lovely piece of mourning jewelry, this contains a lock of George Washington’s hair, as well as one of Martha Washington’s hair. Again, such a fascinating custom, and one I am so surprised to see has fallen out of fashion. It sometimes seems that anything that connects us with death, that doesn’t just Read more about Mourning Jewelry Artifact – Mr. & Mrs. Washington[…]
The following was posted as a guest post over at “Confessions of a Funeral Director”: I’ve been around death A LOT. When I was 4 one of my playmates, a 5 y/o, died of an asthma attack. They buried her and planted a tree at school in her memory. I couldn’t wrap my Read more about Why I Became a Mourning Doula[…]
I’ve been asked on a number of occasions if caskets can really explode, or if this is just an urban legend. Actually – and not so astonishingly when you think about it – it is true. Be forewarned, a somewhat graphic description follows. If you have a weak stomach, or don’t want to think about Read more about Is Exploding Casket Syndrome For Real?[…]
Mourning Jewelry is jewelry worn after the loss of a loved one. At one point it was given out by wealthier families after a death. Mourning Jewelry is typically made of jet, ebony, onyx, or bog oak. In many instances hair is woven into it, or there is a compartment to hold a lock Read more about Lovely Mourning Brooch[…]
This is one of those customs that fascinate me, and is one which is so clearly tied to helping one manage their grief. To me, the lachrymatory seems outright poetic. Check it out: A Lachrymatory or Tear Catcher / bottle was popular from the 1720s until after the Civil war, and were an important Read more about Lachrymatory or Tear Catcher – Funeral & Grief Artifacts[…]
