Join Curious Histories for a fundraiser in aid of Digital Brighton and Hove. Helen Frisby delves into the peculiar customs and rituals surrounding death and burial in Anglo-Saxon, Norman, and Plantagenet England.
The Rituals of Death and Dying in Medieval England
For our medieval ancestors, death was a normal part of everyday existence. In this talk, historian Dr Helen Frisby, author of the Shire book Traditions of Death and Burial, will draw upon a wide range of artistic, liturgical, material culture, and antiquarian evidence to explore relationships between the living and the dead in the period from the Dark Ages to the early Reformation.
Some of our medieval forebears’ customs around mortality, such as sin-eating, seem strange and even unsettling to our contemporary sensibilities. Yet in their rituals are also some threads of continuity which connect the present day to the past. In unpicking and tracing these threads over the centuries, Helen explains why funerals mattered in the middle ages, and why they still matter today.
Our speaker
Helen has taught history at the University of the West of England, Bristol, and funeral directing at the University of Bath where she’s also a Visiting Research Fellow. Helen is Hon. Secretary of The Folklore Society. She’s appeared on BBC and ABC radio and on The History Channel, and continues to research, speak and publish on topics relating to death, funerals and bereavement past, present and future.
On 25th November, you will receive an email that will give you the Zoom link and instructions to join the event. If you have any queries you can reach the organiser by using the 'contact' button below, or on our facebook page.
Our chosen charity
We're asking for a small donation to attend the lecture, but all proceeds will go to assist the work of Digital Brighton and Hove, which helps disabled and elderly people to overcome digital and social exclusion and become more confident in the use of IT technology. If you would like to come to Helen's show but are having difficulty booking, you can get help by calling their Digital Support Helpline on 01273 013661 or Text 4DSA to 88802
The charity also works in partnership with other organisations and provides training, resources, and ongoing support through the Digital Brighton & Hove Network of over 300 organisations working with the shared aim of digital inclusion.
