Decoration Day Southern Tradition

Decoration day the predecessor of today s memorial day remains a tradition in parts of the rural south for remembering deceased family and church members. Decoration days in southern appalachia and liberia are a living tradition of group ancestor veneration observances which arose by the 19th century. Southern folks continued the practice in 1867 and 1868.

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The l a times published an illustrated history about the first decoration day in sunday s paper may 24 2015 page a31 it was a whole page presentation.

Decoration day southern tradition. The illustrations were done by steven brodner an satiric artist and illustrator. Decoration day is an annual observance at many privately owned southern graveyards during which families gather to clean up the graveyard reconnect with family and honor the memories of their ancestors. We will never know for certain if the southern tradition of decoration day was the inspiration for memorial day but the similarities do exist. One of the clearest representations of this evolving decoration day tradition can be found in a short story constance fenimore woolson s rodman the keeper 1880.

In alabama this tradition is generally strongest among rural white communities in the northern part of the state. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on memorial day to honor and. While decoration practices are localized and can be unique to individual families cemeteries and communities common elements unify the various decoration day practices and are thought to represent syncretism of christian cultures in 19th century. When decoration day became a federal holiday in 1868 getting the flowers to decorate the graves in the northern states presented a problem.

The south honors its dead in the south this time of year rural communities gather to clean and decorate their local cemeteries. The holiday is now observed on the last monday of may having been observed on may 30 from 1868 to 1970. It s a tradition called decoration day and not. Decoration day is most often associated with community based cemeteries.

Woolson s titular protagonist is a union veteran working at a civil war cemetery in an unnamed southern state keeping the graves of union and confederate casualties. Memorial day previously but now seldom called decoration day is a federal holiday in the united states for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the united states armed forces. Southern baptist convention knowing god. Whether it is dinner on the grounds and family barbecues decorating a cemetery with flowers and flags or the singing of gospel tunes and playing taps on a trumpet.