Hundreds of small towns in New England maintain an incredibly morbid tradition where a golden-headed cane is formally presented to the oldest living resident, meaning possessing the artifact is a literal death sentence.

A closer look

Hundreds of small towns in New England maintain an incredibly morbid tradition where a golden-headed cane is formally presented to the oldest living resident, meaning possessing the artifact is a literal death sentence. In 1909, the Boston Post newspaper distributed over 700 of these ebony canes as a clever marketing stunt, decreeing that the local selectmen should constantly pass the cane to the most elderly citizen upon the previous holder's demise. As a result, receiving the honor quickly became a terrifying omen, with many superstitious seniors aggressively refusing to accept the cane because they believed holding the cursed walking stick actively expedited their journey to the grave. Given that the primary qualification for the award is being incredibly close to death, the rapid turnover rate among cane holders completely validated their paranoid fears. Today, many towns keep the actual cane locked safely in a museum to avoid handing out a literal tracking device