First I’d like to add that I doubt it’s a celebration of death as much as it was a celebration of life. This thought is coming from the elaborate grave stones and tombs, what better way to honor someone’s life in the extravagant Victorian era?

* How do you feel about cemeteries?

I’ve always felt at peace in them. It would probably shock my therapist and psychiatrist if I mentioned this to her, but I have a fascination and love for them, especially older ones with lots and lots of trees (I’d have a field day in the Nunhead Cemetery!). Things are so much more quieter, calmer, and more at peace in them. You know you aren’t alone, but as long as you have respect it’s not really scary.

* What do you think about our modern-day perspectives on death, vs. those of other time periods?

I can’t say I’ve looked into it much, in all honesty. Though I have the sneaking suspicion that we are a lot more afraid of death than our ancestors. I mean, like you mentioned, it used to be a lot more common. They were no doubt more used to it as we are not, and since they are arguably a lot more religious than we are today they probably didn’t see it as the “end” of someone’s life, but a transition into something new.

I’m just speculating though. Personally, I have little fear of death and don’t see the reason why people should be scared of it. Yeah, very few people probably REALLY want to die (myself included, and I say this with a handful of suicide attempts under my belt), bu t it’s just another stage, and in most cases (excluding homicide and most suicides) it’s a release, eternal rest, the soul taking a needed break from the physical world.

And the fear of it takes away the awesomeness of life. How many fun things are safe? From skateboarding to skydiving, to riding a horse to racing it includes the risk and you could end up dying because of it. If you go around afraid of dying, afraid of pain, afraid of taking a risk you’re really missing out on life… but that’s not the question sooo…. <<'

My family frequently goes to the graveyard, either together or by ourselves. If we are by ourselves sometimes we talk to our grand parents or even our further ancestors about things going on now. We also have picnics in the graveyard. We are Catholic so we always say a prayer at every grave that we visit. Twice or three times a year we clean the graves and place flowers. We have quite a few generations in different graveyards(all in the same state though, thank heavens!) so those days are usually a favorite of the family. I don’t know if it has anything to do with it but we are of a very strong German heritage and I don’t know if that is where we get this tradition.