SKELETONS and skulls brought a graveyard to life during the launch of the city’s festival of death.

Residents gathered in St Giles’ Church graveyard, in Woodstock Road, for the start of the Kicking the Bucket Festival on Wednesday evening.

The free two-week festival will include more than 40 events aimed at tackling the taboos surrounding death.

Stage manager Simon Hutchens, 53, said: “I thought it was good fun, I really did. There was a really good atmosphere.

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“I think it’s an important festival so we can look at issues around death.

“I think generally we ignore and put off thinking about something that is going to happen to all of us, and if we think about it now it means we can live our lives more fully.

“If we think about the end we might even think about what we want to do before we get there.”

Oxford-based band Horns of Plenty launched the festivities with their jazz performances.

Oxford Mail:

Members of the Horns of Plenty, who were playing during the launch.

Visitors donned ghostly skeleton masks and enjoyed spooky cookies while enjoying the entertainment.

It is the second time event director Liz Rothschild has organised the festival for the city.

Funeral celebrant Ms Rothschild said: “In my day-to-day work I come across people all the time who are struggling with a bereavement and often that’s because people have not dared to have a conversation.

“If we could all realise that we are going to die one day we could get on with living our lives more and start making a few plans.”

Oxford Mail:

 Liz Rothschild with skeleton biscuits in the graveyard

The mother-of-two, who is also the manager of Westmill Woodland Burial Ground, said the festival would end on Thursday, November 13.

Events planned for the next fortnight include children’s puppet show Death in a Nut, plus debates and workshops including funeral poverty and pet bereavement.

Residents are also encouraged to contribute to the funeral songs session Dead Good Songs by telling organisers which tunes they would have playing at their funeral.

A list of song ideas compiled will then decorate the Friends Meeting House, in St Giles, before a celebratory concert is held.

  • For more information, visit kickingthebucket.co.uk


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