Sudden Death Memorials in Bucharest: Mortuary Practices and Beliefs in an Urban Context

Abstract

Since 1989, Bucharest has been subject to a significant increase in the number of memorials erected in places where people have unexpectedly lost their lives. Based on the study of 204 memorials registered between 2000 and 2010 in Bucharest, this paper describes and explains the phenomenon. Furthermore, it argues against the terminology so far used in literature on the subject, which does not fully suit the Romanian case. Memorials in Bucharest must be situated and understood in a complex religious context, in which orthodox traditions regarding death are closely interlinked with remnants of ancient folk practices and beliefs of countrywide origin. Erecting them is part of the pre-established mortuary rituals, related to religious practices and beliefs regarding the soul and the afterlife. Therefore, the new term 'sudden death memorials' is instead suggested to designate them, as it refers to the very event that underlies the erection of these particular memorials: sudden, unexpected (and thus unprepared-for) death.