As we slowly march into springtime, I am getting myself into
shape for the new tourism season at the burial ground. As the graveyard trees
slowly wake up, the beauty and color of the flowers and trees are a fair trade
off for my sneeze filled afternoons. Spring is always busy between getting the
burial ground season into shape and working sexton duties for the church.
My sexton duties kept me quite busy during Holy Week. Each
year, I include the burial ground into our Easter service by collecting
branches and sticks from the burial ground for use at the Easter Vigil service
at 5:30 am. I am always proud to start the fire at the Easter service and watch
as the branches from the trees that surround the dead become the spark that
lights the single candle. This lit candle in turn creates the light for the
church service and its people and represents new life.
After such a busy week at the church, there is no rest for
the Crypt Keeper as I plan our first event of the season at the burial ground.
On Wednesday, April 18th from 12-3 pm, we will
celebrate Bens’ Day, the official
kick off of the new tourism season. This date is the day between the deaths of
the two famous Bens in our burial ground, Franklin died April 17th
1790 and Rush on April 19th 1813. We would rather celebrate their
births but they were both born in January, too cold to host an outdoor event!
Activities include Meet the Crypt Keeper, Dr. Physick soda tasting, special
displays to honor Rush and Franklin, and a chess board for visitors to
challenge our tours guides in a game of chess. Benjamin Franklin is in the
Chess Hall of Fame and wrote the “Morals of Chess” in 1786. http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/benjamin-franklin-on-the-morals-of-chess
By the way it’s been a year since I’ve been writing this blog
and I am grateful for all the great response and interesting feedback.
Happy Bens’ Day!
Hop
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