October is a time when many people start thinking about the afterlife, spooky legends, and traditions that dance between the living and the dead. Here at Brandon Funeral Home, we spend our days honoring life — but we also know that the history of funerals is full of strange, fascinating, and even fun facts.
So this October, let’s dig up a few curious tales from the past that might just make you look at funerals a little differently.
1. Victorians Took Mourning Very Seriously
In the 1800s, people didn’t just mourn — they wore their grief. Victorian mourning practices were so elaborate that they followed strict etiquette rules, sometimes lasting over two years for widows. Black veils, lockets of hair, and post-mortem photography were all common.
Yes, people really did take photos with the deceased — as a way to preserve a final memory.
2. The Term “Saved by the Bell” May Be a Funeral Phrase
There’s an old myth that people were once buried with bells above ground — attached by string to their coffin — just in case they were buried alive. While it’s debatable how common this actually was, the fear of premature burial was very real in the 18th and 19th centuries.
That’s where phrases like “saved by the bell” and “dead ringer” are believed to come from!
3. Coffins Weren’t Always Customary
For much of human history, people were buried in simple shrouds. The use of wooden coffins became more common in the 1700s and 1800s, partly as a way to prevent grave robbing — especially when medical schools paid handsomely for bodies to dissect.
In the U.S., iron coffins were even patented to stop body snatchers!
4. Halloween Has Funeral Roots
Halloween comes from the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time to honor the dead and mark the end of harvest. People believed the veil between worlds was thinnest during this time, so they left out offerings for spirits and lit candles to guide lost souls.
The very traditions that give us costumes and jack-o’-lanterns started as ways to protect and connect with the departed.
5. In Some Cultures, Funerals Are a Party
While some view funerals as somber occasions, other cultures use them to celebrate life. In places like New Orleans, funeral processions often include jazz bands, dancing, and color. In Ghana, you might see elaboratefantasy coffins shaped like animals, cars, or objects that reflect the person’s life.
It’s a reminder that grief and joy can coexist — even in the same ceremony.
6. Funeral Myths Gave Rise to Vampires
In medieval Europe, before people understood how bodies decompose, they sometimes reopened graves to find corpses “bloated” or “bleeding.” Without scientific knowledge, villagers believed the dead were rising… and feasting. Thus, vampire legends were born — and stakes through the heart became common in folklore.
So yes, funerals helped inspire Dracula.
Funeral Homes Know How to Keep History Alive
At Brandon Funeral Home, we believe understanding the past helps us honor it. October is the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come — from bells in graves to digital memorials, from Victorian rituals to personalized celebrations of life.
Whatever traditions you follow, and however you remember your loved ones, we’re here to support you with compassion, professionalism, and maybe even a few historical fun facts to share around the pumpkin patch.
Wishing you a meaningful — and slightly mysterious — October.
From all of us at Brandon Funeral Home.