Life noun: Etymology: Middle English lif, from Old English lif; akin to Old English libban to live.

1 a : the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
b : a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings
1 c : an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2 a : the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
b : one or more aspects of the process of living

Death noun: Etymology: Middle English deeth, from Old English dEath; akin to Old Norse dauthi death, deyja to die

1 : a permanent cessation of all vital functions : the end of life
2 : the cause or occasion of loss of life
3 capitalized : the destroyer of life represented usually as a skeleton with a scythe
4 : the state of being dead
5 a : the passing or destruction of something inanimate

Life and Death costumes compiled from the following:

Life:

Silver coins : Greek

Pouch of crushed dried flowers (Filakto) : Greek
Gift given at birth, "filakto" a small cloth pouch containing sacred items such as crushed dried flowers from the Easter service.

Red eggs : China
Chinese tradition to give out red eggs at a birth.

Butterfly wings : Native American
Butterflies symbolize life and rebirth; emerging from cocoon.

Shells: Navajo Indian
Creation story describes the first man as having knees made of shells.

Face paint: Japanese
Kanji symbol for life.

Coat: Irish, Scottish, Baltic Europe
Wife puts on husbands coat to gain some of his strength or transfer some of the pain when giving birth.

Death:

Hair: Taiwanese
During funeral must have hair down.

Black jewellery: North American
Wears jet black polished stone jewellery at funeral

Raven wing: Christianity
Ravens and crows are heralders of death.

Shoes with straw: Korean
Shoes made of rice straw for women at funerals, standard charm.

Veil: North American

Wreath: North American
Symbol of mourning and memorial.

Hankerchief: Christian
Hankerchief in left hand to make the sign of the cross at your arrival to the next world.

Leaf skirt: Hawaiian
Body wrapped in banana, taro and mulberry leaves.

Colored straps on wreath: Red: Chinese, Yellow: Egypt/Burma
Colors of mourning.

Black glove: Colonial America
German settlers in Pennsylvania invited people to funeral with black gloves.

Bells in Hair: Mayan
Ah-puch God of Death wore bells in his hair.