Posted by abskin on January 08, 2000 at 01:38:46:
In Reply to: Dance posted by markos on January 08, 2000 at 01:15:37:
:
: of Death, or Totem Tanz, was a custom believed to have originated in France, which then filtered
: into Germany, Italy, Spain, and England. It was carried on throughout the middle ages, and was
: at its peak during the 14th and 15th centuries, when many references to it appear in songs,
: poems, and dramas, or are depicted on murals in cemeteries, churches, cloisters, and vaults.
: The Dance of Death reveals the great preoccupation of mankind during this period with death.
: Legends of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts were found throughout Europe during the Dark Ages,
: and many customs had been devised to prevent the dead from returning. These included binding
: together the feet of the dead, driving nails into their feet, carrying on a death watch and
: singing and performing games and dances during wakes or after the grave had received the corpse.
: Particularly in Northern European countries, it was customary for those rites to include music and
: and dancing. The belief was that music exorcised the dead, forced them into compliance at being
: taken to the grave, and prevented them from walking the earth again; church bells were thought
: to drive demons away, and to comfort and protect the dead (Backman).
Here's some more stuff about the dead!