Funeral and Mourning Traditions of the Old South (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781939306210)

Mourning in the Old South...

According to William Faulkner, "People took funerals seriously in those days. Not death; death was our constant familiar."

Welcome to the world of Covered Mirrors, Sin Eaters, Grave Dolls, Resurrection Men and Coffin Torpedoes. Life in the Old South was celebrated, but when loved ones passed they were honored in ways that may seem very peculiar in the light of today's world.

In the pages of this book, you'll learn...

• The origin of having flowers at a funeral service. The real reason why may surprise you...
• Why some cemeteries featured Grave Houses for those who were buried there...
• The stories of Mortsafes, Grave Guns and Coffin Collars to foil the dastardly Resurrection Men...
• The language of the tombstone art that you see in cemeteries across the South...

All that, and much, much more.

Some may shock you, a few things might make your skin crawl, but you'll find it all to be infinitely interesting - you can't dare look away!