In the Victorian era, mourning wasn’t just an emotion — it was a way of life. From black veils and funeral etiquette to hair jewellery and post-mortem photography , grief became an art form — and death, a thriving industry. In this episode of The StickyBeak , Monika O’Hanlon dives into the darkly fascinating world of Victorian mourning culture — a time when death was public, ritualistic, and deeply personal. Monika is joined by Al, a U.S.-based collector of Victorian mourning artifacts , who shares eerie insights into the era’s most curious traditions. Together, they uncover: Why Victorians were so obsessed with death and the afterlife The fear of being buried alive — and the strange inventions to prevent it The meaning behind mourning jewellery made from human hair How grief became both a fashion statement and a social expectation From superstition to sentimentality, this episode explores how Victorian mourning rituals reveal more about life than death itself. A HUGE thanks to Al for taking the time to have a chat. Follow her here: INSTAGRAM: @al_curio TIKTOK: @al_curio This episode was brought to you by Tüt , toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world. Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in. Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform ! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL:
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