Lyla Dejesus
In the past, cemetery weddings were believed to ward off plagues and epidemics. This unusual ritual, known as shvartse khasenes or black weddings, involved marrying two unwed individuals in a graveyard, preferably those who would typically be difficult to marry off. The custom, which dates back two or three centuries, was practised by Jewish communities and was believed to be a last resort when other measures, such as prayer and studying the Talmud, had failed. One notable example of a cemetery wedding took place on November 4, 1918, at Mount Hebron Cemetery in New York City, during the Spanish flu epidemic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for cemetery weddings | To ward off the plague or death |
| Who performed it | Jewish settlements, towns or villages |
| Participants | Poor, orphaned, disabled, or a combination of these |
| Participants' relationship status | Unwed |
| Participants' relationship with each other | Sometimes strangers |
| Participants' attire | Donated wedding dress |
| Officiant | Rabbi |
| Gifts | Donations, gifts, food, and money |
| Music | Band |
| Dance | Yes |
| Food | Yes |
| Modern-day popularity | Gaining popularity |
| Modern-day popularity reason | To honour the dead, add solemnity, or save on costs |
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What You'll Learn
- Jewish settlements held weddings in cemeteries to ward off the plague
- The ritual was also performed during the Spanish Flu epidemic
- The weddings were attended by the entire town and neighbouring villages
- The weddings were conducted under a chuppah and witnessed by over 1,000 people
- The ritual was also performed in Warsaw to fend off typhus during World War I
Jewish settlements held weddings in cemeteries to ward off the plague
Plague weddings, also known as black weddings or shvartze khasene in Hebrew, were held in Jewish settlements in the hopes of warding off the plague. The practice likely originated in the 19th century during cholera outbreaks that ravaged Europe. The ritual was also performed in response to other diseases, such as typhus and Spanish influenza.
The idea behind these weddings was that holding a sacred ceremony among the dead would make the participants and witnesses more likely candidates for divine intervention. In the Jewish tradition, weddings are seen as sacred events that bring people closer to God. Thus, it was believed that exchanging vows in a cemetery, surrounded by death, would make the ritual even more appealing to God.
The brides and grooms of these weddings were usually individuals who would be difficult to marry off, such as the poor, orphaned, or disabled. The entire town, and sometimes neighbouring villages, would gather to attend the wedding. The community would donate gifts, food, and money to the couple, and there would often be music and dancing late into the night.
While the practice was considered a powerful Jewish tradition, it was also met with criticism from some Jewish leaders. Rabbinic objections were raised in a few places, with some arguing that the ritual was a "deplorable exhibition of benighted superstition" and was not sanctioned or encouraged by the Jewish religion.
Plague weddings were not limited to Europe, but also took place in North America, where they were introduced by Jewish immigrants facing the Spanish Flu pandemic between 1918 and 1920. One notable example of a North American plague wedding was the 1918 wedding between Harry Fleckman and Dora Wisman in Winnipeg, which was described in a contemporary newspaper report.
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The ritual was also performed during the Spanish Flu epidemic
The ritual of holding weddings in cemeteries was also performed during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. In New York City's Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Miss Rose Schwartz and Abraham Lachterman were married in a ceremony attended by 2,000 people. The couple were cheered on for offering themselves up to stop the epidemic. The wedding was reported in the November 4, 1918, edition of The Evening World:
> The tradition upon which the couple acted is an ancient Jewish one which declares that the only way to stop a plague is to hold a marriage ceremony in a cemetery.
According to Itzik Gottesman, a folklorist at the University of Texas at Austin, the ritual was also popular in Ukraine during the Spanish Flu epidemic and had been used previously in the Pale of Settlement during outbreaks of cholera and typhus.
In Philadelphia, where the Spanish Flu had claimed nearly 700,000 lives, another cemetery wedding was held between Fanny Jacobs and Harold Rosenberg. The ceremony took place at a cemetery near Cobbs Creek and was attended by a crowd of over 1,000 people.
These "black weddings" were often between couples who were poor, orphaned, or disabled. Sometimes, the couples didn't even know each other before taking their vows. The ritual was seen as a last resort when other methods of stopping the plague had failed.
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The weddings were attended by the entire town and neighbouring villages
During the Spanish Flu epidemic, the entire town and neighbouring villages gathered to attend a wedding in a cemetery in New York City's Mt. Hebron Cemetery. The wedding was between Rose Schwartz and Abraham Lachterman, and it took place on November 4, 1918. The ceremony was conducted by a rabbi, and the bride wore a donated wedding dress. The community generously gave gifts, food, and money to the couple. Despite the health crisis, the guests danced and celebrated late into the night.
This practice of holding weddings in cemeteries was not unique to New York. During the same epidemic, a similar ceremony was held in a cemetery near Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia, where Fanny Jacobs and Harold Rosenberg were married in front of a crowd of over 1,000 people.
The tradition of holding weddings in cemeteries to ward off epidemics was not new. Itzik Gottesman, a folklorist at the University of Texas at Austin, explains that this ritual was often performed in Jewish settlements, towns, or villages to ward off the plague. The custom typically involved marrying off someone who would be difficult to marry, such as the poor, orphaned, or disabled. The belief was that by surrounding oneself with death, one could humbly appeal to God for protection for the newlywed couple.
While the origins of cemetery weddings are difficult to trace, they have gained popularity in recent years, especially among young people. Some couples choose cemetery weddings to honour the dead, add solemnity to the occasion, or save on wedding costs, as cemeteries often have beautiful landscaping and gardens.
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The weddings were conducted under a chuppah and witnessed by over 1,000 people
During the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, a wedding took place in Mount Hebron Cemetery, New York, between Rose Schwartz and Abraham Lachterman. This was not an unusual occurrence at the time, as it was customary to hold weddings in cemeteries to ward off the plague or cholera epidemics. These weddings were often a last resort, where those who were difficult to marry off would wed. The bride and groom would often be poor, orphaned, or disabled, and sometimes they didn't even know each other before taking their vows.
One such wedding, between Fanny Jacobs and Harold Rosenberg, took place at a cemetery near Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia, and was witnessed by over 1,000 people. The ceremony was conducted under a chuppah, a canopy held up by four poles. The chuppah is a significant element of a Jewish wedding, symbolizing the home that the bride and groom will establish together. It is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and is said to represent the tent of the patriarch Abraham, which had entrances on all four sides to welcome travellers.
During a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom stand at the centre of the chuppah, surrounded by their families and friends, who offer support and strength with their love. The bride follows the groom towards the chuppah, and they are usually escorted by their respective parents. The custom of the bride circling the groom seven times symbolizes the building of a wall of love around the couple. The number seven is the most sacred number in Judaism and also represents the wholeness and completeness that the couple cannot attain separately.
The chuppah ceremony is the second stage of a Jewish wedding, known as the nessuin, which permits the bride to her husband. It follows the betrothal, or erusin, where the groom gives a wedding ring to the bride, prohibiting her from all other men. The chuppah is considered a sacred part of the wedding, and it is preferable for it to be conducted outdoors, under the open sky.
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The ritual was also performed in Warsaw to fend off typhus during World War I
During World War I, a ritual was performed in Warsaw, Poland, to ward off typhus. This ritual involved a wedding ceremony between two previously unwed people in a graveyard. The couple taking part in the ritual were often poor, orphaned, disabled, or some combination of the three. Sometimes, they didn't even know each other before taking their vows. This practice was known as "shvartse khasenes" or "black weddings."
The ritual was performed as a last resort when other methods of warding off the plague, such as prayer and studying the Talmud, had failed. It was believed that holding a marriage ceremony in a cemetery would stop a plague or epidemic. This belief was not limited to Warsaw but was also held by Jewish communities in other parts of the world.
The Warsaw Jewish Cemetery, located on Okopowa Street, is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe and the world. It was established in 1806 and has over 250,000 marked graves, as well as mass graves. The cemetery has a rich history and has undergone various changes over the years, including conflicts over control and burial issues, the construction of a high wall around it in the 1930s, and damage during World War II.
The ritual performed in Warsaw during World War I was not an isolated incident. Similar rituals were documented in other parts of the world during different epidemics. For example, in 1918, a "black wedding" was held in a cemetery near Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia, and another was performed in New York City's Mt. Hebron Cemetery. These rituals were also popular in the Pale of Settlement during previous outbreaks of cholera and typhus.
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Frequently asked questions
It was believed that holding a wedding ceremony in a cemetery would help stop a plague. The tradition is an ancient Jewish one. The couple would often be those who were difficult to marry off, and they sometimes didn't even know each other before taking their vows.
Guests at these weddings would give donations to the newlywed couple to help them establish a home. There would also be music and dancing, and the guests would give gifts, food, and money.
These weddings took place in Jewish cemeteries in places like New York, Philadelphia, Warsaw, and Ukraine.
The origin of this tradition is believed to go back two or three centuries. It was typically performed as a panacea for cholera epidemics and had also been popular during previous outbreaks of cholera and typhus.
