The Halloween decorations in my neighbors' yards this year are very heavy on the plastic tombstones. Emblazoned with humorous messages, it's unclear if they were chosen deliberately by multiple households or if they're a choice of convenience: Perhaps the most appealing offering at the hardware store.

The sudden preponderance of them sparked my curiosity around food and funerals and took me on a journey through history and modern traditions. Read on to learn more, or if it's not your cup of tea, the recipes are at the very end.