Appalachia is rich in its folklore. So rich, in fact, that in 1969, John Rice Irwin founded The Museum of Appalachia. This museum has authentic pioneer village houses, magnificent log structures, and within each, thousands of artifacts. One of the most interesting artifacts that can be found in the museum is death crowns.
Death crowns are rare to find, but the museum holds dozens on display. They are crown-shaped mats made out of feathers that are found within the pillows of a deceased individual.
Death crowns are usually quite small, only a few inches big, and in Appalachian folklore, they suggest that the deceased has now been saved by entering heaven after their passing. If a person from Appalachia passes, and their family recognizes that there’s a death crown with them, it is seen as an omen of a peaceful journey. Some take it further, considering them a religious symbol and that these death crowns are a sign from an angel.
The majority of people who find these crowns after a loved one’s death keep them. This is why The Museum of the Appalachia has so many; they were given to the museum to show a very significant part of Appalachian culture. In the museum, the majority of these death crowns are showcased in glass cases with the deceased’s obituaries, honoring them.
While nowadays death crowns are seen as majority positive, there was a time when a small group of people saw them as evil omens. It was believed that witches would actually cast spells on these people that caused their passing, and the death crowns were the only thing left behind to prove it.
Despite the death crowns being easily explained by just feathers matting with a pillow that is used, they are fundamental pieces of Appalachian folklore, and the practice of preserving them stays alive within the Museum of the Appalachia.
