The Obituary Today Has A Long History

The Obituary Today Has A Long History

Today’s obituaries are modern descendants of what was called in ancient Rome the Acta Diurna (”Daily Acts”). These were basically early newspapers carrying reports of local legal proceedings and trials and were hand-carved in stone or metal, then hung up on message boards in such popular places as the Roman Forum. The earliest seem to have appeared around 131 B.C.E.

Under Julius Caesar, around 59 B.C.E., the Acta Diurna were expanded to contain a wider range of news — like the results of gladiator contests, socialite marriages and notable deaths (the forerunners of today’s obituaries). Centuries later, in the 1600s, Greater London parishes started releasing “bills of mortality”, a weekly summary to inform the public about who had died, and from what cause. Then, in 1476, when William Caxton (c.1422-c.1491) introduced a printing press to England, it revolutionised the printing process for ever. It was then that the printed obituary took a giant leap into new frontiers.

In the 1500s, matching the rising popularity of printing presses, obituaries became crisp notices of death, usually containing no more than the deceased’s name along with dates of birth and death, and cause of death. More informative obituaries emerged in the 1800s in The Times, London. They included, in addition to biographies, passages for scriptures and even small poems. Further developments in printing in the 1900s led to the addition of images and photographs — which seem to have become the norm. In addition, the names of grieving relatives — including spouse, children and close relations — that are also part of every obituary today.

However, as has already been experienced in foreign countries, costs are beginning to outweigh the utility of the printed obituary. So are the newspaper deadlines. Grieving relatives already have their hands full having to deal with wide-ranging developments taking place simultaneously — well-wishers dropping in, mourners to be consoled, informing those who need to know, making funeral arrangements, finalising priests and premises among the many tasks that fill that crucial time. To be able to compose an appropriate obituary message in the midst of this — besides, finding the right editions of newspapers and getting the message across in time — is becoming increasingly difficult.

The newly launched online obituarytoday.com provides the solution to all these complex problems. It allows one to create a free obituary ad without any pressures, to release the ad online without worrying about deadlines and writing whatever is needed alongside appropriate visuals without having to worry about the cost factor and ability to share with family and friends.

Such online ads become the basis of online memorials and remembrances paying homage to the deceased not only from the immediate family but including tributes from friends, relatives and admirers of the person over time.

This is a free pioneering social service that seeks to fill a long-felt need of people at a time when the country is matching the world with the spread of its Internet facilities in every walk of life.

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