In culture
The 1911 ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' states:...in theFuneral food and drink {{food-stubBalkan peninsula The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...a small bread image of the deceased is made and eaten by the survivors of the family. The Dutch ''doed-koecks'' or 'dead-cakes', marked with the initials of the deceased, introduced intoAmerica The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...in the 17th century, were long given to the attendants at funerals in oldNew York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' .... The 'burial-cakes' which are still made in parts of ruralEngland England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ..., for example Lincolnshire andCumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ..., are almost certainly a relic ofsin-eating A sin-eater is a person who consumes a ritual meal in order to spiritually take on the sins of a deceased person. The food was believed to absorb the sins of a recently dead person, thus absolving the soul of the person. Sin-eaters, as a conse ....