Why Victorians Were Obsessed with Death

In the Victorian era, mourning wasn’t just an emotion — it was a way of life. From black veils and funeral etiquetteto hair jewellery and post-mortem photography, grief became an art form — and death, a thriving industry.In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon dives into the darkly fascinating world of Victorian mourning culture — a time when death was public, ritualistic, and deeply personal.Monika is joined by Al, a U.S.-based collector of Victorian mourning artifacts, who shares eerie insights into the era’s most curious traditions. Together, they uncover:Why Victorians were so obsessed with death and the afterlifeThe fear of being buried alive — and the strange inventions to prevent itThe meaning behind mourning jewellery made from human hairHow grief became both a fashion statement and a social expectationFrom superstition to sentimentality, this episode explores how Victorian mourning rituals reveal more about life than death itself.A HUGE thanks to Al for taking the time to have a chat. Follow her here:INSTAGRAM: @al_curioTIKTOK: @al_curioThis episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week!Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜Got an Idea for the Podcast?I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.EMAIL: [email protected]: @thestickybeakpodcastTIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcastFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.