Eating Our Emotions: The History of Food in Funeral Traditions with Sarah Lohman (Talk & Tasting)

At the end of an early American funeral, participants were often given a cookie: spiced with caraway, and stamped with a special design, they were often kept for years as a memento of the departed.  Although mourning traditions have changed over time, and vary from place to place, what they often have in common is food and drink.  From the home parlor to the funeral parlor; from the Irish wakes to sitting Shiva, consumption offers comfort in a time of grief.  In this talk we'll look at the culinary traditions surrounding funerals throughout American history, as well as taste some of the food that has offered solace through history.