Grave Robbers in the Victorian Era
Grave robbers were a common problem in Victorian-era cemeteries. They stole everything from rings and necklaces to the bodies themselves. “Rest in Peace” is a common epitaph on older gravestones but this wasn’t just a trite phrase in the 1800s. Family members were genuinely concerned…
Victorian Mourning Clothes
Victorian mourning clothes may have been hanging in your ancestor’s closet during the 1800s – a black dress with a high neck, black leather button-up shoes, a black top hat, and more. And when death brought those black clothes out of storage, your ancestors may…
Preparing the Victorian Home for a Funeral
Preparing the Victorian home for a funeral was an all-consuming task. Upper and middle-class families tried to memorialize their loved one’s passing like Queen Victoria herself. And that wasn’t easy. When Queen Victoria’s husband passed away, she remained in mourning for the rest of her…
What About Unmarked Graves?
Unmarked graves are burial sites without visible markers. How will those who have been buried in graves without headstones be remembered? Thanks to the BillionGraves app, there is an easy solution! Unmarked graves become genealogical treasures once the site has been photographed with the BillionGraves…
Burial Customs from Around the World
Burial customs from around the world provide an important link to our ancestors. They are physical evidence of a society’s spiritual beliefs, sometimes dating back thousands of years. Most people believe that their ancestor’s spirits journey to an afterlife but what their families do to…
Animals at the Cemetery: Wildlife Meets Afterlife
Cemeteries are usually associated with death, but they are actually full of life – animal life. As cities around the world expand and the number of urban green spaces decrease, animals are crowded out of their natural habitats. They have to go somewhere, right? And…
