Joanna Ebenstein — Skeletons at the Door
A contemporary manifestation of memento mori
can be found today in New Orleans’s Mardi Gras,
as part of the festivities of the Black Masking Indian krewe.
Their annual procession begins at dawn
when the so-called Skull and Bones Gang—dressed as skeletons—
knock on the doors of neighborhood homes
to remind them of the transience of life
and invite them to join the festivities.
In a similar vein,
Tibetan Buddhist festivals often incorporate so-called cham dances.
These are devotional performances
that often feature costumed skeletons
intended to remind revelers of the presence of death.
Joanna Ebenstein
Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life
https://www.joannaebenstein.com/