Rituals and Traditions

Hundreds of years ago, Vikings had many elaborate traditions and rituals for funerals. Sometimes these rituals involved the burning of entire ships—and even human sacrifice. And if something was done incorrectly, they risked the dead returning as a zombie-like draugr. Death Uncovered: Rituals and Traditions details fascinating ways people commemorate, celebrate, and mourn the passing of loved ones. From Viking funeral pyres, to postmortem photographs in Victorian England, to death masks—made using actual dead bodies as the mask’s mold—these six topics are sure to engage readers as they journey around the world to discover the rituals and traditions surrounding death in ancient times, up to today.