19th Century Funeral Re-enactment Saturday, August 25

As part of its seasonal portrayals of life (and death), Upper Canada Village will be presenting “A 19th Century Funeral” re-enactment event on Saturday, August 25, where visitors will gain dramatic insight into how many of our present-day funeral customs have their roots in the past.

The 19th century Funeral re-enactment is based on scenarios suggested by actual events from the 1860s as reported in historical sources. It offers visitors a unique visual experience and demonstrates how the rites of death were observed in the 1860s. The Village’s ongoing commitment to careful research and attention to detail will be evident in every aspect of the re-enactment.

This year, the Village will be portraying the funeral of a young man from the Robertson family. Accidental death was a common occurrence in the 19th century and young widows often faced the consequences of a sudden loss of income or support for their young families. Village staff will represent various Robertson family members struggling to deal with such a sudden death.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. until early afternoon, costumed Village interpreters and visitors alike are invited to pay their respects to the deceased man’s family at the Robertson House. Signs of 1860s mourning customs will surround visitors, from the black crape over the home’s mirrors, to the villagers’ special attire chosen specifically for the occasion. The body, in a plain black wooden coffin, will lie in the darkened parlour until early afternoon, providing ample time for visitors to ask questions and learn more of the background behind the customs of the day.

At 1:00 p.m., visitors will be able to witness the removal of the coffin by pall-bearers. They, together with the deceased man’s family and a resident clergyman, will ride by carriage, forming a cortege behind the coffin as it is taken to Christ Church in an authentic 19th century hearse (one of the oldest of its kind in Canada today). The funeral rites will take place inside the church and the burial in the adjacent church yard.

The “19th Century Funeral” re-enactment will complete the series of summer events at Upper Canada Village this summer, making way for the site’s fall festivities. These annual celebrations include the “Family Music and Arts Festival” from September 1 to 3, “Fall Gardens” day on September 8, the “Fall Fair” on September 15 and 16, the “Quilt Show” on September 22 and 23, “Fall at the Farm” taking place from September 29 to October 5, and “Thanksgiving Weekend” on October 6 and 7.