The curse of the bambino refers to a superstition in baseball that originated from the Boston Red Sox's failure to win the World Series between 1918 and 2004. The curse is believed to have been caused by the Red Sox's sale of Babe Ruth, a talented player, to the New York Yankees in 1919. This trade was seen as a huge mistake, as Ruth went on to become a baseball legend and helped lead the Yankees to several World Series victories. After the trade, the Red Sox struggled to win championships, which led to the belief that the team was cursed. The curse became a popular narrative among baseball fans and media, amplifying the pressure on the team to break it. It became a source of frustration and disappointment for Red Sox fans, who endured years of near misses and heartbreaking playoff exits.
It became a source of frustration and disappointment for Red Sox fans, who endured years of near misses and heartbreaking playoff exits. The curse gained even more notoriety in 2003 when the Red Sox were just five outs away from reaching the World Series but ultimately lost to the Yankees. This defeat intensified the belief in the curse and added to the team's reputation as perpetual underdogs.
Organizing a Memorial Service for a Pagan Family Member
The loss of a loved one can be exceptionally challenging to bear. But one way to honour their memory is to organize a funeral memorial service that is aligned with their spiritual beliefs.
If your loved one considered themselves a pagan, you can host a beautiful memorial service that celebrates nature and the wonders of the Earth.
At Perth Cremations , we can help you organize a memorial service according to your bespoke needs and requirements. Feel free to speak to us today to discuss your options.
What is paganism?
Paganism is a branch of spirituality that does not pertain to any specific religion. Instead, practitioners of paganism consider Mother Nature and the elements to be a form of divinity and focus on nature worship.
If your loved one considered themselves a pagan, you can give them a loving Pagan funeral memorial service that is aligned with pagan natural practices.
Tips to organize a pagan memorial service for your loved one
Different branches of paganism – such as Shamanism, Druidry, Wicca etc. – have different ceremonies prescribed for funerals. But one commonality between them all is the celebration of nature. When you’re planning a memorial service for a Pagan family member, consider doing the following:
1. Have wreaths made of local indigenous flowers and plants
Pagan practitioners celebrate the bounty of the land they live on. Having funeral wreaths made of local, indigenous flora is a great way to celebrate the beliefs of your loved one. You can check the symbolism of different local flowers online to infuse specific significance into the memorial service. For example, Irises for honour and respect.
2. Bring small statues of their matron/patron deities to the memorial service
Some pagans do worship deities – either Christian deities or gods & goddesses from another culture. If your loved one had a matron or patron deity, you can honour their beliefs by bringing the statues of the deity to the service and placing them next to the burial site. You can even keep these statutes on the burial site for a few more months.
3. Read poems on nature instead of religious verses
Poems on nature are one of the best offerings you can give to a Pagan loved one during their memorial service. Poems such as “ Rain Light ” by W.S. Merwin, “ Nothing Gold Can Stay ” by Robert Frost, “ I Thank You God for Most This Amazing ” by E.E. Cummings and “ The Grasses ” by Rumi are a few choices you can consider.
4. Encircle the burial site with candles
Many spiritual practitioners use candles in their practice. Candles represent the steadiness and brightness of the soul, and they represent divine light. A beautiful way to showcase your love for your family member is to light white candles around the burial site. White represents the purity of intention and renewal.
5. Light incense, sage and myrrh
Incense, sage and myrrh are herbs that are believed to have the power to remove negative energies. They infuse the air with positivity and power. Additionally, many Pagan rituals use incense as an offering to the divine. Lighting incense, sage and myrrh during the memorial service can be a wonderful way to help your loved one’s spirit connect with their matron/patron deity.
6. Place your local, seasonal fruits and vegetables as offerings on their gravesite
Just as with local flowers, indigenous and seasonal vegetables and fruits can make wonderful burial site offerings. This is a way to celebrate your loved one’s spiritual beliefs and also give back to the local community.
7. Consider burying them with their sacred altar tools or books
If your loved one had any sacred spiritual tools and/or books, you can consider burying them with them. While not all pagans use altar tools, some may use crystals, deity statutes, divination decks, chalice, spiritual books, etc.
At Perth Cremations , we understand the importance of honouring your loved one’s spiritual beliefs and wishes. We will help you organize a funeral memorial service that helps you celebrate their memory in the most beautiful, loving and authentic way possible. Contact us to speak to one of our memorial service directors today.
However, in 2004, the Red Sox finally won the World Series, ending the "curse of the bambino." This victory was a monumental moment for the team and its fans, signaling the end of years of heartbreak and frustration. The Red Sox went on to win three more World Series in the following decade, solidifying their position as one of baseball's most successful franchises. The curse of the bambino has since become a part of baseball folklore, demonstrating the power of superstition and belief in sports. While it may have been rooted in the Red Sox's struggles during the early 20th century, it ultimately served as a motivation for the team to prove the doubters wrong and achieve greatness..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Bambino: A Superstition That Haunted Boston Baseball"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Curse of the Bamnino". The plot was confusing and didn't make much sense. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with any of them. I also found the pacing to be incredibly slow, which made the already boring story drag on even more. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and exciting read.
- Mark - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Curse of the Bamnino". The writing style was incredibly dull and uninspiring. The author seemed to rely heavily on cliches and predictable plot twists, which made the whole reading experience extremely boring. The characters were also incredibly unlikable and lacked any redeeming qualities. I found myself not caring about their fate and just wanted the book to be over. I would definitely not recommend wasting your time with this book.
- Jessica - 2 stars - "Curse of the Bamnino" had so much potential but fell flat for me. The premise seemed interesting, but the execution was poor. The pacing was all over the place, with moments of intense action followed by long stretches of nothing happening. It made it hard to stay engaged in the story. The writing style was also dry and lacked any flair or creativity. The characters felt one-dimensional and the dialogue was stilted. I was hoping for a thrilling adventure, but ended up feeling disappointed.