Growing up, I had a friend who lived just across the road from the local cemetery. We loved sneaking in after dark, playing hide ‘n seek among the tombstones, and letting our imaginations run wild. Hallowe’en was always a special time, conjuring up ghoulish stories and supposed ghost sightings.
Although I no longer explore cemeteries after dark, and not even much during daylight hours, I must admit to being very interested and somewhat fascinated by them. I am especially intrigued by historical cemeteries. One of my favourite geocaches (see my Sept. 21, 2022 blog) was at the Nutana Cemetery (Pioneer Cemetery). Established in 1884, this land is the final resting place for early settlers and notable figures like businessmen, politicians, and community leaders. The cemetery was used until about 1909, or longer for those with established plots. The first person buried here was Robert Clark, who died in 1884 from exhaustion while fighting a prairie fire. Another fellow, Edward William Meeres, died in 1888 in a blizzard in what is now the centre of the Nutana neighbourhood.
On a side note: For some reason, the story of Edward Meeres really fascinates me. I don’t know much about him. He was born in England in 1861 and came to Canada as a young adult. His short life ended at the age of 27. Edward was the eldest son of Dr. Meeres of Plymouth, England. According to the Plymouth, England Western Morning, Feb. 20, 1888, he was “very strongly built and venturesome, and not unfrequently he would undertake duties that more prudent men would refrain from.” Friends report that on the night of Jan. 10th, while a prairie blizzard raged outside, Edward left against the advice of his friends to check his stable, which was about 400 yards away. He said that if it was too stormy to come back, he would stay at a friend’s who lived closer to the stable. When he did not return home the next afternoon, friends visited his stable and discovered he had not made it there. A search began. Other settlers searched the area; the RCMP were called in, and a track about four miles off was found. It could not be followed because of snow drifts. Finally, it was decided to hire “Indians to take up the track. Three of the best Indian trackers and their ponies were engaged, and an interpreter went with them to the spot where the traces were lost.” Three days later, the trackers discovered the body in a small clump of willows. “The internment took place on the 20th of January, amid many indications of sorrow and regret for the high-spirited young settler on the part of his neighbours to whom he had endeared himself by his kindly and unselfish disposition.”
(Another notable fellow with the same name was Gunner Edward William Meeres. He was born in 1896 in Saskatchewan and died in France in 1917 at 21.)
Now, getting back to the point of this blog. While poking around online one day, I came across the reference to “taphophile”. Say what? A taphophile. A taphophile is a person who is passionate about cemeteries, gravestones, and the history of deaths. They are also interested in the art and culture surrounding cemeteries. The word taphophilia is derived from the Greek words “taphos” meaning tomb, and “philia” meaning love or attraction.
Our fascination with death and burial is nothing new. Just look at the pyramids of Egypt, the mausoleums of ancient Rome, and the burial sites of Mayan ruins. Taphophiles have a different perspective on cemeteries than most. They see them as a window to our past and not just a place for the dead or a place to fear.
Exploring a cemetery can turn up a lot of historical goodies. Of course, larger centres have massive “pioneer” sections, but let’s not forget the small cemetery in the middle of the prairie. These final resting places are usually maintained by small rural schools and churches and are rarely used nowadays. There are several small family sites, ranging in size from five to 20 plots, that show up on the prairie. These belong to early settlers or farmers who could not reach a community cemetery and chose to bury their loved ones close. Those, too, may be abandoned because children moved away, farms were sold, or transportation to other centres made things more accessible.
Cemeteries have changed considerably over the years. They have gone from individual sites along the river marked by a cairn of stones to beautifully landscaped parks with benches and resting spots for those visiting loved ones. The elaborate Victorian tombstones and epitaphs have given way to sleek, flat markers. In fact, some cemeteries have restrictions that limit the size of grave markers. There are also considerations given to how to make cemeteries more diverse so that all cultures can pay tribute to their dead. Some newer cemeteries even have areas where people can come together to honour their ancestors.
Speaking of honouring our ancestors, tomorrow (Oct. 31) is the start of Sam Hain. I have written about this special time before, so I won’t go into details. Check out last year’s blog. Pronounced SOW-In, Sam Hain is a Gaelic festival that takes place on the eve of October 31st to November 1st. It marks the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter, or the “darker half” of the year, and is the halfway point between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice. It is said that the veil between the dead and the living is thinnest during this time, so it is important to honour the ancestors.
Sam Hain is also the Witch’s New Year, the beginning of darkness where all things begin. It is time to rest and honour life and death, what has passed and what has begun.
This Sam Hain, let your inner taphophile shine. Pay homage to your ancestors. Visit a cemetery and place photos of departed loved ones at your dinner table. Share memories with family and friends. Honour the past, let the past go, and prepare for the future.
Interesting Reads & Things
WHY DO YOU LIKE CEMETERIES? Are you a Taphophile? – The Wacky Wanderers
Taphophiles Dig into the History Behind Famous Headstone Instriptions (signatureheadstones.com)
What is Taphophilia? — Part of Life
Cemeteries | The Canadian Encyclopedia
Are You a Taphophile? – Just Give Me 2 Minutes
Taphophile “To Love Graves” With Dark Ambient Music – YouTube
Wanderings Art 