Around the world, food is a way to honor the departed and offer comfort to the bereaved.  Through the vehicle of food, mourners come together and support one another during a difficult time.  Especially in times of loss, food provides a sense of community and connection.  Many cultures see food as important aspect in funeral …
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Throughout history and across cultures, hair has functioned as a symbol with deep meaning.  The folicular signifer has different meanings in different contexts.  A widespread feature of funeral customs relates to the mourners’ hair. People of Jewish faith observe strict mourning for seven days.  During shiva (the Hebrew word for “seven”), the week-long mourning ritual in Judaism, …
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Stony Creek Quarry is the last of a dozen quarries that at one time lined the Connecticut coastline.  Located in Branford, Connecticut the quarry grew out of the unusual pink granite underlying its soil.  Stony Creek Quarry is said to be the home of the granite that made New York.  Some of America’s most renowened …
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The History of Mother’s Day Each year on the second Sunday of May, families in the Bronx and across the U.S. gather to celebrate Mother’s Day.  Our staff at Woodlawn Cemetery take the time to acknowledge this important day and all that it means for families throughout our community. Since the 19th century, Mother’s Day has …
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During the month of May, we celebrate the cultures, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.  The first Japanese immigrants came to the U.S. in May 1843 and it was during the same month in 1869 that the transcontinental railroad was completed, a major feat achieved primarily through the hard …
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Before jazz beats filled the streets of Midtown Manhattan, the sounds of upright pianos playing catchy tunes were heard along Tin Pan Alley. It was back in the days before radio, when every home had a piano and families bought sheet music to play their favorite songs. Through the leaders of the Tin Pan Alley …
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April is National Poetry Month!  National Poetry Month is a special occasion to celebrate the expressiveness, delight, and pure charm of poetry.  Throughout April we remind ourselves that poets have an essential role in our culture and that poetry matters.  Funerary art helps one learn more about a life that was cherished and contemplate one’s own existence.  …
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Pacific Islanders refer to those whose origins are the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific islands.  Pacific Islanders comprise a diverse number of ethnic groups, ancestries, and languages that originated in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.  Funeral traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific islands show that memorialization takes different forms. Almost …
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With around 3,000 ethnic groups and 2,000 language varieties, Africa is a continent with fascination around every corner.  There are a multitude of ethnic groups in West Africa.  Christianity and Islam have spread widely across West Africa; however, native West African religions and their traditions still influence everyday life in the region. The dazzling diversity of West …
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What makes a cemetery a great cemetery? Host of PBS’s “World’s Greatest Cemeteries” Roberto Mighty uncovers this question in a magazine-style half-hour that uses historians, forensic scientists, and horticulturists to share true stories of the world’s most spectacular cemeteries.  In addition to interviews with historians, authors, tour guides, and other experts, the series includes reenactments exemplifying …
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