This Woman Celebrates Deceased Individuals in the Most Amazing Way
Rosie Grant, a librarian and communications manager, visits gravestones around the world and pays tribute to the dead by recreating the recipes she finds on gravestones. She has become not just a TikTok influencer, but a beacon of inspiration in the #gravetok community, a space that has garnered over one billion views. How did she get here?
During the recent pandemic, 33-year-old Rosie stumbled upon a spritz cookie recipe carved into a headstone. At the time, she was pursuing her master’s degree in Library & Information Science at the University of Maryland. Rosie always had a deep affection for research and documentation and found herself drawn to this unique blend of history and culinary art. This marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. The tombstone, adorned with an open-book design, featured a full cookie recipe engraved on it. Rosie recreated the cookies from the recipe and returned to the grave to enjoy them on site, paying homage to the deceased.
@ghostlyarchive Sweet sounds of baking spritz cookies #gravestonerecipe #spritzcookies #cookiesoftiktok #recipegravestone #cemeterytok #gravetok #recipesoftiktok #asmr #fyp #foryoupage
Recently featured in a New York Times article, Rosie has captured the hearts of many with her unique culinary journey through time.
MyHeritage is dedicated to honoring the legacies of our ancestors, which is why Rosie’s work, focused on recognizing and preserving what our ancestors have passed down, is incredibly significant to us. We are excited to sit down with Rosie for a TikTok live to discuss her project.
Join us for an exclusive TikTok live session where Rosie, a prominent figure in the #gravetok community, will take us on her journey that bridges generations through culinary experiences!
Photo credit: James Jelin
A Tribute to Heritage and Culture
Rosie films her graveside meals on her TikTok account (@ghostlyarchive). From fudge to snickerdoodles and chicken soup, each meal she prepares is a special tribute to the person whose recipe she is following.
Here’s one of our favorites! Watch as Rosie eats carrot cake next to the gravestone with the recipe engraved on it:
@ghostlyarchive “A Good Carrot Cake” 2 cups of flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp soda 1 tsp salt 2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped nuts 4 eggs 2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups oil 2 cups grated carrots 1 (8 1/2 oz) crushed pineapple, drained Soft together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in oil, pineapple, carrot, nuts, flour, mixture. Turn into 3 greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, remove to wire racks, cool well. Vanilla cream cheese frosting; 1/2 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla 1 (8oz) cream cheese 1 pound powdered sugar, sifted Mix butter, cream cheese, vanilla, then add sugar. Frost between layers, top and sides. #carrotcake #gravestonerecipe #recipesoftiktok #recipegravestone #gravetok #recipeshare #cemeteryexploring #recipetok #fyp
Preserving History, One Recipe at a Time
The #gravetok community is more than just a trend; it is a movement to conserve the country’s past and inspire a new generation of cemetery enthusiasts or taphophiles (Tombstone tourists). Rosie emphasizes the importance of local communities connecting with their local cemeteries and caring for them. Through her efforts, she hopes to inspire a new generation of people who can protect and care for overlooked cemeteries, preserving them for generations to come.
Join Us for a Live Session with Rosie Grant
So join us for this special TikTok live session with Rosie next week!
–When: Monday September 18th at 10 am EST
-Where: MyHeritage TikTok (@myheritage)
And if you’re not already following our TikTok account you can find us here.
