Experience the cemetery whisper with the black widow in Borgfeld!

Experience the cemetery whisper with the black widow in Borgfeld!

In Bremen-Borgfeld, the cemetery culture comes to life: On Friday, June 20, the Borgfeld parish invites you to a special course of experience with Anja Kretschmer-Rodenbröker, which is known as the "black widow". The doctorate art historian has dealt intensively with the grief and funeral culture in the past ten years and will interesting to tell the participants about the historical superstitions and old customs, which many visitors are often unknown. Tickets are available for 17 euros in the municipal office or online.

A tour of a cemetery can be more than just a walk. "It promotes understanding of death and helps to reduce fears," explains Kretschmer Rodenbröker. It reports consistently positive reactions by visitors, who are often surprised by the beauty and cultural importance of these places. Cemeteries are not only considered the final resting place, but also as gardens of memory and social meeting places that encourage thinking and exchange. This is also reflected in the recognized importance of the cemetery culture in Germany, which has recently been classified by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. Weser-Kurier reports that this initiative recognizes the uniform value for society.

cultural diversity and social encounter

Another central aspect of the cemetery culture is the variety of rituals that have developed over generations. Various cultural traditions meet in the cemeteries, as you can find in East Frisia and the Weser-Ems room, where old customs are often still alive. "I guess the different cultures," emphasizes Kretschmer Rodenbröker and refers to the open tapping of the Russian Orthodox and the Jewish washing, which for many of us offer fascinating insights into other ways of life.

In addition, the cemetery culture has developed over time. The increasing number of urn burials influences the appearance of the cemeteries and the culture lived. The Federation of German Cemetery Gardeners has an important role in this because it actively works for the care and further development of the cemetery culture. [City and Grün] (https://stadtundgruen.de/artikel/unesco-friedhofskultur-in-ist-ist- IMTATERIELES-Kulturerbe-6184) reports that the initiative for inclusion in the cultural heritage directory goes back to the contribution of these gardeners, which are the most important actors in the storage of these traditions.

The beauties and stories that hide behind the tombstones can be an enriching experience and the confrontation with the finiteness of life can be put into a new light. Kretschmer-Rodenbröker feels more than just as a places of farewell; For them it is a “second home”, a space of calm and grounding.

This is how the course of adventure with the "Black Widow" will not only be a journey of discovery through history, but also for an invitation to look at dealing with death again and more appreciate the value of life. The importance of the cemetery culture is thus recognized as a lively part of our cultural heritage and as an important social pillar, which accompanies us through all eras. [UNESCO] (https://www.unesco.de/staette/friedhofskultur-in-Deutschland/) emphasizes that these traditions comprise numerous dimensions, open the perspectives and contribute to international understanding.