The Cremation of Care is an annual event created, organized, and performed by members of the Bohemian Club. It takes place at the Bohemian Grove near Monte Rio, California, in front of a 40-foot-tall (12-meter) statue of an owl. The performance happens at a small lake within a private forest of ancient redwood trees.
The event occurs on the first night of the club's annual gathering. It symbolizes the removal of everyday worries for the club members and represents the protection of the trees by the club. However, the club's secretive practices and the influence of some members have drawn criticism.
History
In 1878, the Bohemian Club of San Francisco held its first summer celebration in Taylorville, California (now known as Samuel P. Taylor State Park). This event, called Midsummer High Jinks, included poetry readings, singing, and dramatic performances. Each summer, the club held similar celebrations, often near the Russian River in Sonoma County. In 1881, the club added a new tradition called the Cremation of Care after the performances. James F. Bowman was the first person to serve as Sire, a role that included organizing the event. In 1893, Joseph D. Redding helped expand the ceremony with a performance titled The Sacrifice in the Forest, or "Druid Jinks." This event included themes of brotherly love and Christianity overcoming paganism. Redding created the structure of the ceremony, but actors like George Tisdale Bromley were asked to write their own speeches. In 1904, a play called The Hamadryads included lines such as "Touch their world-blind eyes with fairy unguents." This play showed conflicts, battles, and the symbolic death of the Spirit of Care.
Early versions of the Grove Play, a theatrical event, had rules for the Sire, who acted as host and organizer. The setting had to be a natural forest, and the character "Care" had to be introduced to cause trouble before being defeated by the hero. The Cremation of Care ceremony followed the play and lasted until midnight. The event ended with a performance of the song There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight by the Jinks Band, followed by a late-night meal and celebration.
Starting in 1913, the Cremation of Care was separated from the Grove Play and held on the first night of the summer gathering. The Grove Play was later moved to the final weekend. A new Sire was chosen for the Cremation of Care, and some members worried the event was becoming too similar to the Grove Play. Some Sires tried different themes, such as a patriotic World War I story in 1918 or a script about Prohibition in 1919. In 1922, the character "Care" was not killed or cremated. In 1923, Charles K. Field was asked to standardize the script for the Cremation of Care, creating the foundation for all future versions of the ceremony.
Staging
The ceremony includes moving a small boat across a lake. The boat carries a statue representing "Dull Care." Hooded people receive the statue from a ferryman and place it on an altar. At the end of the ceremony, the statue is burned. This burning shows that members are trying to get rid of worries and guilt. In the past, the word "care" meant worry and had negative meanings, unlike today when it often means kindness.
The ceremony happens near the Owl Shrine, a 40-foot (12 m) hollow owl statue made of concrete and steel. The statue is covered in moss and lichen, making it look like a natural rock. Inside, it has electrical and audio equipment. During the ceremony, a recording plays as the voice of The Owl. For many years, the voice was Walter Cronkite, a guest of the club. Music and fireworks are used during the ritual to create excitement.
Controversy
On July 15, 2000, radio host Alex Jones and cameraman Mike Hanson entered the Bohemian Grove secretly and recorded the Cremation of Care ceremony using a hidden camera. The video was later included in Jones' documentary titled Dark Secrets: Inside Bohemian Grove. Jones stated that the Cremation of Care was a ritual from an "ancient Canaanite, Luciferian, Babylon mystery religion." Jon Ronson documented Jones and the Bohemian Grove in his series The Secret Rulers of the World. In his book Them: Adventures with Extremists (2001), Ronson described the Cremation of Care ritual as having "an overwhelming sense of immaturity," including Elvis impersonators, fake pagan rituals, and heavy drinking. He noted that while these individuals had achieved success in their careers, they seemed emotionally stuck in their college years.
Protests
Protesters outside the main entrance of the Bohemian Grove have held a "Resurrection of Care" ceremony. This event aims to undo the effects of the "Cremation of Care" ceremony, which is meant to help attendees temporarily set aside their worries. The protest was first organized in 1980 by Mary Moore, a former beauty queen who later became an activist. Moore was more focused on stopping people with corporate connections from gaining influence in government than on opposing the "Cremation of Care" itself.