This photo was named ”picture of the year” in 1958.
My translation of photo description by the museum:
“’Picture of the year 1958’, taken at Stillhetens kapell (the chapel of Stillness) in Karlstad. The son wanted to place a bottle of beer in his father’s coffin, to take with him on his journey to heaven.
The tradition for Romani is normally that the dead are given some money or jewellery, but also alcohol and the favourite food of the deceased.
The policeman is trying to prevent the son from placing anything in the coffin. This photo was named picture of the year in 1958. The photographer was Åke Borglund who had been sent to Karlstad by the newspaper Se, to document a large Romani funeral. The extended family of the deceased had gathered. Åke Borglund later described the moment pictured as very special ‘For some reason I ended up as the lone photographer inside the chapel, next to the coffin. I took a single picture, and then the moment had passed.’
What happened to the beer bottle? As far as Åke Borglund could recall, the son was finally allowed to place the bottle in the coffin, after loud protests against the refusal.
One question remains unanswered forever: Why did the policeman say no?”
poggenpfuhl
This looks like a still from noi/classic horror movie, amazing
LunaSee
This photo really makes me think about how pointless it is to get upset over small things. Who cares if he puts a bottle of beer in his father’s casket? Here it is 62 years later and whether that bottle of beer is or is not in that coffin has changed nothing about life. At the time however that cop was annoyed/alerted enough to be upset about this small inconsequential action that didn’t even affect him. If the story is true he even debated with a crowd on the topic, probably giving himself a tough day in the process. For what? A fucking bottle of beer? If that cop had just given a little less of a shit about shit that doesn’t effect him, he could have had a peaceful work day and not upset a group of mourners. I’m seriously going to think of this picture when I start taking life too serious again. It’s just a fucking beer bottle.
crimsonbub
why’s the man trying to put a beer bottle in the police officer’s father’s coffin anyway? 👀
Johannes_P
Relatives burying their deseased parent with their items is as old as mankind itsels; whi did this policeman elt obligated to prevent it? If it was an item which could cause the casket to lose solidness then I could have had understood but beer?
![A police officer tries to stop a man from placing a bottle of beer in his father's coffin. Karlstad, Sweden in 1958. [1583x939]](https://i.redd.it/e06dwu14c3q51.png)
eam2468
Image source
This photo was named ”picture of the year” in 1958.
My translation of photo description by the museum:
“’Picture of the year 1958’, taken at Stillhetens kapell (the chapel of Stillness) in Karlstad. The son wanted to place a bottle of beer in his father’s coffin, to take with him on his journey to heaven.
The tradition for Romani is normally that the dead are given some money or jewellery, but also alcohol and the favourite food of the deceased.
The policeman is trying to prevent the son from placing anything in the coffin. This photo was named picture of the year in 1958. The photographer was Åke Borglund who had been sent to Karlstad by the newspaper Se, to document a large Romani funeral. The extended family of the deceased had gathered. Åke Borglund later described the moment pictured as very special ‘For some reason I ended up as the lone photographer inside the chapel, next to the coffin. I took a single picture, and then the moment had passed.’
What happened to the beer bottle? As far as Åke Borglund could recall, the son was finally allowed to place the bottle in the coffin, after loud protests against the refusal.
One question remains unanswered forever: Why did the policeman say no?”
poggenpfuhl
This looks like a still from noi/classic horror movie, amazing
LunaSee
This photo really makes me think about how pointless it is to get upset over small things. Who cares if he puts a bottle of beer in his father’s casket? Here it is 62 years later and whether that bottle of beer is or is not in that coffin has changed nothing about life. At the time however that cop was annoyed/alerted enough to be upset about this small inconsequential action that didn’t even affect him. If the story is true he even debated with a crowd on the topic, probably giving himself a tough day in the process. For what? A fucking bottle of beer? If that cop had just given a little less of a shit about shit that doesn’t effect him, he could have had a peaceful work day and not upset a group of mourners. I’m seriously going to think of this picture when I start taking life too serious again. It’s just a fucking beer bottle.
crimsonbub
why’s the man trying to put a beer bottle in the police officer’s father’s coffin anyway? 👀
Johannes_P
Relatives burying their deseased parent with their items is as old as mankind itsels; whi did this policeman elt obligated to prevent it? If it was an item which could cause the casket to lose solidness then I could have had understood but beer?