COCULLO SNAKE FESTIVAL FROM ITALY!

    The attraction of snakes seems to be a huge pull factor, and seemingly the whole world's major ophidiophillaccs (snake lovers) often accompanied by their snakes, alongside keen photographers, descend on the small medieval town of Cocullo, in the Abruzzo Majella Mountains, ready to take part in this festival which has been re-enacted in its current Christian format each year, apart from 2009.

    There are three supposed origins to the Cocullo Snake Festival....In the 11th century, apparently Saint Dominic cleared the local fields which were being overrun by snakes, and as a sign of thanks, since 1392, the locals parade his statue and snakes around the streets. The second version dates to 700 B.C., locals experienced the same problems in tending to their field and Apollo ordered the village to entwine the snakes around his statue so that they would become tame and be able to farm once more. The first origin dates back some 2000 years to the Marsi who were the original inhabitants of the area who worshipped the Goddess Angizia. The goddess's official symbol was a snake and thus offering of snakes were presented to her to fend off attacks from local wolves, bears and malaria.

    The festival officially begins on March 19th, when local snake catchers/charmers around Cocullo begin to catch 4 types of local harmless snakes: (Elaphe quatuorlineata) and the Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissma) and grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and its dark green sister snake (Coluber vindfiavus). Once caught they remove the snakes fangs. (not a good idea when it comes to return them back to the wild).

    Following an early morning Mass in the town's small church, local inhabitants ring a small bell using their own teeth to protect them against toothache for the following year. Local soil is blessed which afterwards is spread over the local fields to act as a form of natural pesticide. The wooden statue of Saint Domenico is then taken out of the small church and the snakes are draped around and over the statue and the statue is then paraded around the narrow lanes of ancient Cocullo.

    Leading from the front are the brass bands, that ironically seem to be mostly composed of those most snake charmer-esque of instruments, the oboe and clarinets. Another mass is broadcast over loudspeakers, which, women traditionally dressed, recite and sing, followed by priests. They are followed by girls in traditional laced costumes carrying ciambelli, which are local cakes that have a texture like doughnuts and are decorated with pastel colored, by the hundreds and thousands. Saint Domenic is carried up from behind, with the snakes and their charmers following closely behind. The procession winds back down to the church where it all started, and on their arrival home, a huge fireworks display, which sounds more like cannon shots, begins its 10 minute overture.

    If you like something out of the ordinary , visit Cocullo's snake festival; your next door neighbor may be stroking their snake next to you, but it gives you something to talk about as you gasp and think of a reason to decline their generous offer of holding one of their snakes, while jostling to get that ultimate photo.

Tips

    Get there early, the procession begins at 12 noon and the parade lasts for an hour and a half (the problem is parking...you can end up, if you arrive late, parking your car up to a couple miles away and have to hike uphill from the depths of the Sagitarrio Valley to get back to the small town of Cocullo, severely out of breath, if you are unfit.
You may hate the huge numbers of porchetta vans and mini market stalls up to the town itself and wonder why the police don't allow people to par there, but due to the huge number of people that attend the Cocullo Snake Festival, food must be had by attendees. Local restaurants get booked out with celebrating locals, used the porchetta Panini rout.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH GHOSTS AND SPIRITS!!

    Taking a photograph of a ghost or spirit does not require fancy equipment or extensive training. Any camera is capable of capturing images of ghost and spirits. Digital cameras are preferred because they produce immediate results, can e stored on a memory card or transferred to a computer without losing quality and there is no film to fiddle with in the dark.

• Select a location that has reports of paranormal activity. Although you can certainly capture a ghost image in the most unlikely of places, exploring paranormal hot spots increases your likelihood of capturing apparitions or ghostly figures.

• Take pictures of a defined object to provide perspective and to judge distance. Focus on a tree, gravestone or fence post if you are shooting a photo outside in a haunted location. Include people in your photos when ever possible. It is believed that some spirits are attracted to people and you just may catch that perfect shot while photographing your team members.

• Avoid shooting into the sun as it causes lens flares that can easily be mistaken for paranormal images. Any source of light, even the moon, can cause lens flare. Be conscious of all sources of light, including flashlights.

• Watch for reflective surfaces like windows, mirrors or shiny objects in the camera's field of view. If yo are using a flash, objects out of the view of the camera can also reflect light that may appear on film in unusual patterns.

• Tie hair back or wear a hat to prevent a strand of hair from accidentally falling in front of the lens. Check lens straps and caps and keep away fro the front of the camera.

• Avoid taking photographs in humid conditions or if it's raining or snowing. This creates orb-like images on the picture. Mist or fog may distort images or create a myriad of orbs.

• Take a deep breath and hold it while you take a photograph to prevent your breath from appearing in front of the camera in cool weather. Even when you can't see your breath, it may show up on film.

• Take two shots of the same location without changing position. Do this before exhaling as movement as simple as breathing out can shift the focus of the camera and result in a different angle. If you are lucky enough to catch evidence of paranormal activity, you will have another photo to compare images.

• Examine photos closely for unexplained images. Beware of a process called matrixing where the brain translates sensory stimulus to create a familiar image from the unknown. If that ghostly face you see in the trees is composed of leaves and branches, then it is not a real ghost image. An authentic ghost or spirit image is not created from parts of the environment. It has a distinct shape and form that differs from the surroundings.

• Study orbs carefully, as they are most often created by moisture, dust pollen or flying insects. True spirit orbs emit their own light and may cast a shadow. Study images of common dust and pollen orbs to learn to distinguish them from genuine spirit orbs.

    The tools you use to take spirit or ghost photographs is up to you, but keep in mind that the better the quality of the camera, the higher quality image it will produce. Get in the habit of snapping photos whenever you visit a site or when you get a gut feeling a spirit may be present, but do observe standard precautions. Not only does this prevent you from mistaking camera straps, reflection and orbs from insects or dust for ghostly images, it prevents real images from being compromised as well.

BEST BEER FESTIVALS IN THE UNITED STATES!

1. Great American Beer Festival, Denver Colorado

    The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is a three-day annual event hosted by the Brewers Association held at the end of September or the beginning of October in Denver, Colorado. The GABF brings visitors from around the world to sample more than 1,600 different American beers. Over 100 beer judges from the United States and abroad participate in the evaluations of one or more beer styles, ultimately judging 2,300 beers entered by more than 450 domestic breweries. Gold, silver and bronze medals in 69 beer-style categories are awarded, though not every medal is awarded in each category.

  
2. Oregon Brewers Festival, Portland, Ore.



   The OBF served 73 different craft beers from 18 states across the country. The top selling product for the third year running was Cascade Brewing's Razberry Wheat out of Southwest Portland. Another light, refreshing fruit beer to sell out early was Hell or High Watermelon by San Francisco's 21st Amendment Brewery. Portland's Widmer Brothers Brewing sold a large quantity of its Full Nelson, an Imperial IPA brewed specifically for the OBF.

3. Vermont Brewers Festival, Burlington, Vt.



   The Vermont Brewers Festival is the longest running outdoor brewers festival in the East, and it's no wonder since Vermont is home to more breweries per capita than any other state. Brewers' participating in this event do so by invitation only, based on brewery capacity, distinctiveness, and quality of their products. Enjoy a wide range of offerings, including traditional lagers, ales, and unique products such as fruit beers, barleywines, and Belgian-style white beers.

4. Toronado Barley Wine Festival, San Francisco, Ca    The 14th Annual Toronado Barley Wine Festival in San Francisco is one of the premier high gravity beer festivals in the United States. All the barley wines are purchased by the owner and are judged by judges from around the country. The owner trys his best to get as much as he can get of the best barley wines around the world. All 46 taps at Toronado will be filled with barley wine and they will stay that way until they run out.

5. Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison, Wis.
     The Great Taste of the Midwest is one of the premier beer festivals in the United States. Over one hundred brewpubs and microbreweries from the Midwest attend each year to share beer and good times with five thousand patrons overlooking beautiful lake Monona in Olin-Turville Park in Madison, Wisconsin.

6. World Beer Festival, Raleigh and Durham, N.C.



    The World Beer Festival is the largest celebration of national and international specialty beers in the Southeast. 300 beers from 150 breweries, and is a benefit for charity. This year's festival will benefit the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. The funds raised will go toward revitalizing Downtown Raleigh.

7. American Craft Beer Fest, Boston, Mass.
     In keeping with their self-elected duty to bring better beer to the masses, BeerAdvocate founders and brothers Jason and Todd Alström are crafting something big. Held in June at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, the first annual "American Craft Beer Fest" (ACBF) will feature 3-sessions, invite upwards of 75 breweries, and serve at least 300 craft beers with an expected attendance of 15,000 appreciators of beer.

8. Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival, Anchorage, Alaska 
     Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival brings together 40+ breweries, 150+ beers and over 4000 folks to celebrate big winter beers in the midst of a dark, dreary near-Arctic winter. A $30 entry fee buys you a commemorative glass, beer tasting tickets and a very detailed program guide to all beers at the event.

9. Fresh Hop Ale Festival, Yakima, Washington 

    For a brew to be considered a “fresh hop ale” for the festival competition, it must be produced with hops that were picked no more than 24 hours prior to brewing (talk about overnight shipping!). Fresh Hop Ale is produced throughout the month of September, timing dependent on the growth of each year’s hop harvest. Brewers then bring their freshly brewed kegs of beer to the fest, where a panel of judges selects first, second and third place Fresh Hop Ales. Festival-goers vote with their taste buds— a “Most Pours Award” crowns the crowd favorite.

10. Classic City Brewfest, Athens, Ga

    The Classic City Brew-Fest offers a huge variety of beers to sample from all over the world including world-class, gourmet, strong beers! This year's festival will be an enjoyable, intimate and comfortable way to taste and learn about these exciting beers. Details on beer brewing and styles are stressed at the event -- along with information on responsible drinking. Attendees can also enjoy live music, non-alcohol drinks, and purchase delicious food items from the Athens Steam Company Pub booth.

Honorable Mentions

Extreme Beer Fest, Boston, Ma
    Cometh! The firestorm of creativity sparked by American craft brewers rages on during the original, and 6th annual, Extreme Beer Fest in Boston, MA this February 20 & 21, 2009! Discover big, bold, creative, and unique offerings that will change the way you think about beer forever. Make sure to bring an open mind & palate. Dare to drink different.

Philly Craft Beer Festival, Philadelphia, Pa.

  
   Come experience the flavors of award-winning breweries from across the country – from highly-acclaimed local beers by Yards, Victory, Nodding Head and Dogfish Head to great brews from special guests like Rogue, Stone, Ommegang, Southampton, and He’Brew. 50 Breweries and over 120 beers.

BockFest, New Ulm, Mn

    Outdoor winter festival on the grounds of historic Schell's Brewery in New Ulm. They feature the seasonal "Bock Beer", music, food stands, medallion hunt in the adjoining Flandrau State Park and great fun! This event has become a winter tradition in New Ulm.

  Hops For Hope - Dunwoody Beer Festival, Atlanta GA

  

   The Dunwoody Beer Festival hosts a combination of over 150 beers, malt beverages, and liquors from countries all over the world. All proceeds will benefit Camp Twin Lakes, a non-profit organization. Camp Twin Lakes is Georgia's only camping facility designed for children with a wide range of physical and emotional needs. This caring environment was created to nuture these children, to allow them to experience the therapeutic joys of camping and recreation.

Belgium Comes to Cooperstown
   Each summer, the brewery hosts a large beer-tasting event, known as Belgium Comes to Cooperstown. The event, which occurs on a Saturday in July, includes four hours of unlimited beer sampling of over 200 Belgian and Belgian-style beers, followed by food, live music, and a bonfire.

MONSTER TRIVIA, 13 FACTS ABOUT VAMPIRES!!

    Almost every culture in the world has its own vampire legend, and some date back thousands of years. Today, we are most familiar with Count Dracula and other folklore from Eastern Europe. Do you want to learn more? Here is a list of 13 juicy trivia facts to get your blood pumping with Halloween just about a day away.

1. Was the first vampire a woman? The oldest known vampire legends come from Babylonian and Sumerian mythology. Female demons called the Lilu were said to hunt women and children at night, and drink their blood.
2. Vlad III Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracul, was known for his incredible cruelty, he was alleged to have killed up to 30,000 people at one time! His blood thirsty reputation inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula.
3. The National Retail Federation listed "Vampire" as the second most popular adult Halloween costume in 2005. Vampires were the sixteenth most popular children's costume for the same year.
4. While modern pop culture usually portrays vampires as sensual and romantic, other countries don't see them that way, the Ghanan Asasabonsam vampire has iron teeth and hooks for feet-which they use to drop from treetops onto unsuspecting victims.
5. Some believe that Cain was the first vampire, cursed by God for slaying his brother, Abel. This theory is frequently found in popular films and games.
6. In 1992, Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula" movie won seven awards, including three Oscars.
7. Stakes, fire and sunlight aren't the only ways to kill a vampire. Other cultures recommend beheading a vampire, boiling it in vinegar, pounding a nail through its navel, or scattering birdseed on its tomb.
8. In Latin American folklore, El Chupacabras is a supernatural creature that drinks the blood of animals-usually chickens and goats.
9. According to popular tradition, vampires can shape-shift into wolves, bats, or clouds of mist. (sometimes they can even change into a blood orange also!)
10. In March 2007, self-proclaimed vampire hunters entered the tomb of Siobodan Milosevic and staked his body through the heart.
11. The medical conditions porphyria, has been blamed for may reports of vampirism, its victims develop pale skin, sensitivity to sunlight, receding gums which make their teeth appear larger, and sever anemia-the cure for which, in ages past, might have included drinking animals' blood.
12. In the 17th Century, Countess Bathory of Hungary was said to bathe in human blood in order to preserve her beauty. Some even accused her of vampirism.
13. Vampire bats were named after vampires, not vice-versa.

ANZAC DAY FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND!

    Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on April 25th every year to honor members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It is now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.

History

    Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC, stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand. This is a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name.

Foundations of Anzac Day

    On April 30th, 1915, when the first news of the landing reached New Zealand, a half day holiday was declared and impromptu services were held. The following year a public holiday was officially declared on April 5th and services to commemorate were organized by the returned servicemen.
    April 25th, was officially named Anzac Day in 1916; in that year it was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services in Australia and New Zealand, a march through London, and a sports day for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Egypt. The small New Zealand community of Tinui,near Materton in the Wairarapa was apparently the first place in New Zealand to have an Anzac Day service, when the then vicar led an expedition to place a large wooden cross on the Tinui Taipos (high large hill behind the village) in April of 1916 to commemorate the dead. A service was held on April 25th of that yer. In 2006 the 90th anniversary of the event was commemorated with a full 21 gun salute fired at the service by soldiers from the Waiouru Army Camp.

    In London, over 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops marched through the streets of the city. A London newspaper headline dubbed them "The Knights of Gallipoli". Marches were held all over Australia in 1916; wounded soldiers from Gallipoli attended the Sydney march in convoys of cars, accompanied by nurses. Over 2,000 people attended the service in Rotorua. For the remaining years of the war, Anzac Day was used as an occasion for patriotic rallies and recruiting campaigns, and parades of serving members of the AIF were held in most cities. From 1916 onwards, in both Australia and New Zealand, Anzac memorials were held on or about April 25th, mainly organized by returned servicemen and school children in cooperation with local authorities. Anzac Day became a public holiday in New Zealand in 1920, through the Anzac Day Act, after lobbying by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association's, the RSA. During the 1920's, it became established as a National Day of Commemoration for the 60,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders who died during the war.

Anzac Day since World War II

    With the coming of the Second World War, Anzac Day became a day on which to commemorate the lives of Australians and New Zealanders lost in that war as well and in subsequent years. The meaning of the day has been further broadened to include those killed in all military operations in which the countries have been involved.
From the 1960's, but especially in the 70's and 80's, Anzac Day became increasingly controversial in both Australia and New Zealand. The day was used by anti-Vietnam War protesters to agitate against that war and war in general, and ceremonies were later targeted by feminists, anti-nuclear campaigners, Maori activists and others.

Commemoration

       In Australia and Ne Zealand, Anzac Day commemoration features solemn "Dawn Services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on April 25th, 1923, and now held at war memorials around both countries, accompanied by thought of those lost at war to the ceremonial sounds of The Last Post on the bugle. The fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen" (know as the "ode of Remembrance") is often recited.

TOP 10 BIZARRE FOOD FESTIVALS!!

    Food,  food,  food!   We love it so much it features regularly on the List Universe. And the one thing we love more than food? Bizarre lists. Fortunately this one combines both passions. So sit back and enjoy a fun filled list. Of course, if you can think of other exciting bizarre food festivals, be sure to let me know in the comments.

10. Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes)

Where: Oaxaca, Mexico
When: December 23-24 annually

    This is a food festival where eating is discouraged! This festival originated in the 16th century when Spanish monks brought this edible root to the new colonies. To gain attention in the food markets, sellers would carve some radishes into eye-catching sculptures. This tradition continued throughout the centuries and became an official festival in 1987. Radishes as big as two feet long and weighing upwards of ten pounds are carved into intricate religious or cultural scenes. The artisans can compete in three different categories for cash prizes

9. Annual Testicle Festival

Where: Clinton, Montana, USA
When: July 29-August 2nd


    There are several imitators but this is the original ballfest. Usually known by its classier name, the Rocky Mountain Oyster Festival, this whole event is dedicated to serving deep-fried bull testicles. You can have your choice plain deep-fried, beer battered, marinated, as well as some newly concocted delectables. For the indecisive, $5 can provide a sampler plate of testicles. Those on a low-testicle diet can have fun as well! One of the highlights of the festival is Bullshit Bingo, with a grand prize of $100 for the lucky person who can correctly predict where a cow will do its doodie. The motto of this dignified event? “I had a ball at the Testicle Festival.”

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8. World Pea shooting Championship


Where: Witcham, Cambridgeshire, UK
When: July 11th

    This is loosely termed a festival since the food isn’t celebrated; rather, it’s like a block party that grew out of a simple target competition. In 1971, local headmaster Mr. Tyson held the first pea shooting competition as a way to fundraise for the upkeep of the village hall. The entrance fee is only £1.00 for adults and £0.50 for children, but be warned! The competitors take this extreme sport seriously and you’ll need hi-tech gear (like the laser-guided pea shooter) to stand a chance on the field with these seasoned pea shooting veterans

7. Roadkill Cook-off of the Autumn Harvest Festival


Where: Marlington, West Virginia, USA
When: September 26th

    Nobody panic! None of the entries in this harvest festival competition have any tire marks as they aren’t actually unfortunate outcomes of “Why did the chicken cross the road?” jokes. This competition utilizes wild game such as raccoon, possum, deer…basically any of Bambi’s friends that could be potential roadkill. Does that make it better? No? oh well… notables among the past wild game entries are “Spicy Venison, Buffalo & Sausage Stew”, “Pulled Bambi”, and Biscuits & Squirrel Gravy.

6. Gilroy Garlic Festival

Where: Gilroy, California, USA
When: July 24-26th

    Gilroy is the unofficial Garlic Capital of the World and proudly shows off in this festival that attracts over 100,000 visitors annually that as a whole consume an estimated two and a half tons of garlic at the event. The official Gilroy Garlic Festival website claims to have used 72 tons of garlic in the twenty-nine years this festival has existed. Cooking demonstrations and lectures discuss traditional uses and health benefits but the innovative can always express their love for this pungent food in the Great Garlic Cook-off, which has had entries like garlic ice cream, garlic soft drinks and last year’s winner “Walnut-Garlic Tart with Garlic-Infused Cream and Chili Syrup”. Anyone need a Tic Tac?

5. Waikiki Spam Jam

Where: Waikiki, Hawaii, USA
When: April 25th

    As an area with a scarce meat supply during WWII, this archipelago embraced the blue-canned pink meat and has now become Spam’s most loyal market. During this street festival, hula dancers perform while judges crown a Mr. and Miss Spam and Hawaii’s top chefs create new recipes celebrating the gelatinous meat product. Pedestrians get to sample everything from Spam Burgers to Spam Musubi (kind of like sushi but with spam instead of fish). This festival also serves a philanthropic purpose that benefits the Hawaii Food Bank, the largest non-profit in Hawaii that feeds the needy.

4. Ivrea Orange Festival

Where: Ivrea, Italy
When: Last date: February 25-28th

    La Tomantina has already been mentioned in a previous lists, but by no means is that the only fruit-throwing festival! The Ivrea Orange Festival originated from the 12th century when during parades and city celebrations, girls would throw oranges from their balconies to gain the attention of the boy they fancied. The boys began to reciprocate (no mention if the secret admiration was reciprocated but the oranges certainly were!) and this evolved into a messy rivalry between the balcony girls and the street boys. It wasn’t until WWII when the intricate citrus battle rules were finally laid out. It is free for anyone to participate by joining one of the nine teams on foot or become a member of the carriage crew.

3. Carnival at Vilanova i La Geltrú (Candy Throwing Fight)



Where: Vilanova i La Geltrú, Spain
When: Fat Tuesday

    Originally a protest of the Franco regime’s Carnivale prohibition, this annual festival is by far the sweetest food fight in the world! Celebrations begin on Fat Tuesday with the Meringue Wars, where bakeries open their stores and pass out free pie ammunition to children. The adults dress in the colors of their respective Carnival Society and attend parties and masquerades before joining the children in the streets in what becomes a sweet tooth free-for-all! Over 200,000 lbs of food has been donated to the food fight, ranging from pies to candy to cereal… It’s a dentist’s nightmare! The festival officially ends with the ceremonial burial of a sardine to mark the beginning of Lent and fasting.

2. Olney Pancake Race

Where: Olney, England, UK
When: Pancake Day or Fat Tuesday

    At 11:55 am on Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Day, aka Fat Tuesday), the local ladies assemble dressed in traditional housewife attire (including skirt, apron and scarf) and run 415 yards through the streets of Olney carrying a frying pan. The pancakes are tossed at the start of the race and the winner is must toss her pancake again at the finish. The race has been an Olney tradition since 1445 and in 1950, the competition expanded to include a friendly flapjack rivalry with the housewives and young women of Liberal, Kansas in the US. The ladies of Liberal won this past year’s race with a new record of 57.5 seconds

1. Annual Yuma Lettuce Days

Where: Yuma, Arizona, USA
When: Last date: January 23-25th

    Yuma is known as ‘The Winter Lettuce Capital of the World". Sounds silly, yes, but considering Yuma produces $1.5 billion of Arizona’s agriculture revenue and provides 90% of North America’s winter vegetables, it’s appropriate to respect the lettuce. Among the highlights of this Veggie Fair are the Lettuce sculptures, Cabbage Bowling, Homegrown Cooking Contest and the "World’s Largest Salad".

WHAT MAKES THE GRAVEYARD A SPOOKY AND SCARY PLACE?

    Under the watchful gaze of crumbling saints and baby-faced cherubs, you hurry down a path lined with mausoleums. Eventually, you pass crops of headstones casting long, narrow shadows in the moonlight. Each engraved with the epitaph of the dead person's life. You run past sunken graves and dying flowers, hoping that the sound you hear is just the wind and you're trying to shake the feeling that something is following close behind you.
    Maybe you've never taken a midnight stroll through your local cemetery. But if you have ever set foot in one, you've likely felt a hint of fear and uneasiness that is their legacy. Maybe you were attending a funeral of someone dear and close to you, touring graveyards or simply fleeing things that go bump in the night.
    Whatever your reason for strolling among the tombstones, you probably felt something noteworthy about the experience-something different from all the other spaces and places that fill our lives. After all, graveyards are the final resting place for many of our dead. People say their last goodbyes there, sometimes returning year after year to leave flowers or say a few words.
    No matter where we travel in the world, cemeteries are silent and solemn settings. Whether the grounds are finely manicured or left to the weeds, graveyard exist as the place where the living contemplate many mysteries, traumas and heartbreaks associated with death.
    Why are many people afraid of graveyards? Is it the thought of all those decaying bodies (zombies) under the dirt or the idea of an old crusty are coming out of the grass to grab your foot and pull you into their final resting spot with them? Or is it something deeper?

    Cats often receive a bum rap for hanging out in cemeteries, but can anyone blame them? Graveyards offer a cat everything they could ask for: all the best spots to nap, trees to use as scratching posts and a selection of small animals to prey on. What more could your averages sized cat want with your dead relatives soul when there are many squirrels and birds around to occupy their time?
    To cats, graveyards may be another place to sleep away the afternoon, but to we humans, they represent the mystery and the outrage of mortality. Whether we like it or not we're all going to die. You may think you've accepted that fact, but it's an issue humanity has struggled with for ages. Unable to avoid it, we've tried to figure out what lies beyond its doors. Will we live forever in a golden paradise, be reincarnated as a cow (or a cat that spends all afternoon in a cemetery) or simply cease to exist? We've pined for understanding since the times of the great pyramids and stared into the eyes of guillotined heads, hoping to catch a glimpse of something other than the emptiness of nonexistence.
    Fear exists as a response to stimuli that threatens our survival as a species. We're programmed to fight or run from anything that might cause death, and we approach death with this same attitude. We flee from it every day by distancing it from our thoughts and lives. In most parts of the world, we've handed the duties of interring the dead over to morticians, which limits our intimacy with death.
    Fighting death is trickier. To avoid staring down mortality, we've redefined what death is. We choose to see dying not as something our bodies eventually do, but something that eventually happens to our bodies. We cast ourselves as the victim of death, which is the reason grim reapers and other death-stalking beings permeate our beliefs. If death is a natural counterpart to life, there's nothing we can do about it in the end. But if it's something inflicted on us by an outside force, then perhaps we have a fighting chance.
Society often sets aside the angel of death and instead chooses to practice what some people call "the deconstruction of mortality." That is, we break down the insurmountable mystery of death into smaller pieces we can digest easily: biological functions, diseases and mental dysfunctions. If prayer or bribing the reaper doesn't work, maybe multiple organ transplants will.
    Pray and think about death all you want, but it's still going to happen at some time.

    Disposing of a body isn't difficult. Bury it in the forest, cremate it or just leave it out for the vultures--a rite Zoroastrains in India still practice. Not only are these methods cheaper than buying a fancy casket and a cemetery plot, but they also allow "Mother Earth" to reclaim the decaying material faster. The use of stone mausoleums, coffins and embalming only slows down the decomposition process.
    But then again, burials aren't really about the dead--they're about the living. We do our best to stave off some of the bad properties of death. And while immortality isn't an option, tombstones and stone monuments serve as long-lasting markers of the life that was. Aunt Betty may be out of your life for good, but a slab of engraved granite will serve as a reminder that she existed. Cemetery stonework also serves to encourage a sacred atmosphere, enforcing notions of afterlife and further establishing the site as a kind of sacred place between life and death.
    We humans fear death, yet we work hard to maintain hallowed spaces where the dead are memorialized and at least partially preserved. On top of that, we heap religions full of resurrection prophecies and thousands of years' worth of superstitions, folktales and ghost stories. We're constantly repressing our feelings about death or magnifying them to tremendous proportions. Maybe you avoid cemeteries and nursing homes, or actively try to speak to the dead through TV psychic mediums-either way, you're striving to avoid the real relationship that exists between life and death.
    We've poured a lot of sacrament, superstition and fear into our graveyards, which makes for quite a powerful atmosphere. Not only do graveyards play on past memories of loss, they also invoke potentially potent themes of supernatural terror. It's not just horror movies that contribute to this frightening reputation. Cemetery preservation groups and historical societies sometime get in on the action with haunted tours.
In more extreme cases, people actually suffer from colmetrophobia, the fear of graveyards. The condition involves a heightened, unrealistic fear of graveyards that actively interferes with a person's life. But unless walking past a cemetery makes your heart race, your fear probably doesn't qualify as a phobia.
    For the most part, the only things you really have to fear in graveyards are collapsing tombstones and monuments. Besides that, living, breathing humans are responsible for more graveyard assaults than all the vampires, zombies and ghouls combined.