DSC_4734 EGC.jpg — Halloween is Traditionally a day for Honoring the Dead

by Simie Seaman

The roots of Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, is thought to have originated from a Celtic festival dedicated to marking the beginning of winter and the end of the annual crop cycle. The day was believed to be the moment when the souls of the dead would travel to the underworld, weakening the barriers between the living and the dead.

In the modern Christian calendar it precedes All Saints Day, a day dedicated to honoring all of the dead saints. Other cultures also celebrate a day of the dead at this time of year, with cemeteries often at the heart of the celebrations and activities.

Although Christian cultures once buried their dead in the grounds of their parish church, changing attitudes in the 18th century – compounded by the population explosion in cities in the 19th century brought about by the industrial revolution and subsequent overcrowding – led to the creation of the designated burial areas we are more familiar with today.

These cemeteries became a focus for a new kind of monumental memorial architecture. This was particularly evident in areas of the world under the influence of the British Empire, whose architects indulged in creating highly decorative structures and covering graves and mausoleums with sculptures and carvings. When you think about it, the only thing a person has at the end of their lives is the legacy one leaves behind. More than a burying yard, cemeteries hold original works of art.

It’s the earliest form of art in America. It’s not replaceable. It should really be viewed as a museum, although it’s in an outdoor environment, and it needs to be taken care of that way. For better or worse, a city’s story is told in its cemeteries; they are where the past meets the present. A lot of times the cemetery tells the whole history of city. Often, it’s the oldest intact property in the city. Buildings can deteriorate and be demolished, but you can’t take away the cemetery.

With Halloween fast approaching I headed off to tour some of the oldest cemetery in Los Angeles. My first stop was The Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights. Its age, coupled with its lack of upkeep, makes for a straight up haunting cemetery. As I approached the cemetery I was in awe of the field of tombstones it looked like it was straight out of a movie and as I passed through the ornate wrought iron gates I became enthralled with the idea of photographing them. The cemetery was established in 1877. As I walked the grounds and read the tombstones what stories they had to tell of generation’s immigrants and various cultures that made up the fabric of this community. Unlike most other cemeteries of the time, African Americans were allowed to be buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Many prominent African American citizens can be found here. Evergreen was also popular with first generation Japanese, known as "Issei," and the white establishment, as well. Founding families, like the Van Nuys and Lankershims, built massive granite and marble cottage style tombs in the Anglo section by the neo-gothic chapel. Chapel and crematory were designed by Arthur B. Benton (best known for his work on Riverside's Mission Inn).

My second stop was the Long Beach Historic Sunnyside Cemetery. Sunnyside is the final home to about 220 former Union soldiers, many Japanese-Americans who suffered internment during World War II and several pioneering Long Beach people, including mayor and Farmers & Merchants Bank founder C.J. Walker, early schoolteacher Jane Elizabeth Harnett, early fire chief Joseph Shrewsbury and many others. The cemetery was designated as a historic landmark by the city in 2000. If you are looking for an unconventional way to celebrate Halloween or just a way to remember the legacy of Los Angeles I hope I’ve inspired you to visit these two cemeteries. It is the perfect way to make a memorable Halloween, or simply relive the glory days of Los Angeles.

Bio

Simie Seaman, enthusiast amateur photographer, history buff and collector of beautiful things. Simie is President of the Wilmington Historical Society.

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