Happy Halloween

Halloween, and again I was on the road. This time in the Czech Republic.  Not a bad place to be if you are interested in monsters, ghosts and history.  So I decided to wake up early and travel to the city of Kutna Hora.  Why?

To visit the Sedlec Ossuary (a building made for housing people's remains).  This one goes back to 1278 AD, when a local abbot was sent to the holy land as part of the crusades. When he retuned he brought soil from Golgotha, and scattered it over the church cemetery. 

Soon, word of his deed spread, as it often does, and this little church became  one of 'THE' places to be buried in Central Europe. Every bit of help to improve your odds of going to heaven I suppose. Creative marketing!

It is estimated that between 40,000 and 70,000 people were buried here. The Black Death and Hussite wars in the 14th and 15th centuries were a boon for business.  Before long, there was no more room in the cemetery, and the remains had to be exhumed and placed inside the newly built Ossuary.

It is said a half blind monk was given the task of digging up the bodies and stacking them (in 1511).  Then, in 1870 a local woodcarver was hired for the job. Apparently he was more of the creative type. 

Not only did he leave his name in bones above (J. Rint), but he came up with the idea of Skeleton chandeliers, candle holders, a family coat of arms (and legs, shoulders hands...)and other decorations. 

Needless to say, it was an interesting place. I wonder what his house looked like?

People like to put money around the bones.  Does that bring good luck?  Or is it like some ancient carnival game, where you try to bounce the coin into an eye socket?

I have no idea. 

But it was a great place to spend a brisk Halloween morning. 

And then, by the magic of modern air travel, I made it back just in time to spend a wet rainy night out on the town with this crew. Happy Halloween indeed! What a bizarre holiday.