It’s Okay to Giggle at the Clown Funeral

Atlas Obscura, February 2016

Screen Shot 2016-05-15 at 8.39.55 PM

On the first Sunday in February, a funeral took place at All Saints Church in Haggerston, North London. At the beginning of the proceedings, clowns entered the church anarchically, causing a ruckus, poking people with puppets, and brandishing balloon animals. This was to be expected, for the occasion was the Grimaldi Service—London’s annual clown funeral.