Graveyards Questions.

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Something to think about while ya'll are snow'd in--in the N.E. Have ya'll noticed that in all old grave yards [at least in America] the graves are laid out east and west? Newer ones don't always follow that old tradition. I've seen new ones that bury every which way. S'pose most everybody knows why. Certainly I know! An old duffer told me years ago. Don't know about anyplace other than America but suppose its the same there too. Peepoles overseas or out of America might want to post and set this old hillbilly straight. Nuther thing--why was/is graves always 6 feet deep? Luke 6:31

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 05, 2001

Answers

Another question, Hoot, have you ever heard that the wife must be buried on a certain side of her husband? When working for a small town near me, we handled burials at the town cemetary, and someone wanted to be buried on the "wrong" side when she passed away. It caused a lot of upset! I told them when I go, I will darn sure be buried on whichever side I choose! Now, for the life of me, I don't remember if it was the right or left side, either! (Just re-read this and it sounded like the deceased woman was making the choice of sides, but folks often purchased plots in advance!) Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), March 06, 2001.

Good question. Maybe since so many have ashes in their eyes, er I mean for their eyes, maybe it just doesn't matter which way they face.

As to the depth of bury---seems that a coyote or other critter will dig down three feet to get something. With a six foot depth and a two foot thick casket and a three foot dig, that would still leave one foot of dirt on top. Any less and the animal might get to the casket depth. Fact or fiction?

Answer two---if you bury with less than four feet of dirt on top of a casket, there is a chance with heavy soaking rains that the ground will become so saturated that the casket will soak loose and pop to the surface as a boat or tube filled with air would. Fact or fiction?

Once floated out an old 2000 gallon fuel tank in a very heavy rain storm after it had a little of the dirt removed from around the perimeter of it. Put props under it to keep it from settling back into the hole. Then just rolled it away later. Fact.

Answer three---Once heard about a mean old cuss that told his wife that if he died first he would claw his was out of his grave and come back to get her. He was so mean and always kept his word that folks actually believed that he would.

After the funeral his wife seemed as happy as a lark. Someone asked her about what he had said, and she responded, "Let the old cuss dig, I had him buried upside down".

Maybe it just takes that much dirt to keep zombies in their rightful place. Uh you do believe in zombies don't you? (grinning and snickering in the background)

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), March 06, 2001.


I have also heard that if a women lost a child the child was buried upside down so the next child would live. Not sure if its true.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), March 06, 2001.

the reason that peoples are buried east to west is... that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. When reserection day comes the dead will set up in thier graves and see god. New grave yards bury people any which way to just get them buried.

The wife is bured on the right side of her husband because that is where she stands when she is getting married to him. And that is where she is to stay by him through life or death.

-- red hen (redhen@fiberia.com), March 06, 2001.


OK as long as we are on the subject I love old grave yards .Why isnt more being done to presserve these old stones .Once lost they are gone 4 ever .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 06, 2001.


Speaking of graveyards. With as much money as it took to get our land, time, etc. Doesn't it just irk any of you just the littlest bit when their are graveyards every few miles, using up space that folks could live/farm on? I know the majority of my friends and family feel that the days of tombstones and being buried in fancy boxes is coming to the end with our parents. Most of us are opting for cremation and then certainly not sealed into a cement mossoleum somewhere! Scatter my ashes at sea, and certainly only after a teaching hospital has used me to teach young up and coming doctors, and every part of me has been used in organ transplant! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 06, 2001.

Well! Seems nobody else has any answers to these earth shattering questions regarding the Grave yards. The six foot deep custom is to keep animals from diggin into the grave. Another theory is to keep weight on top to help hold the coffin in the ground--to keep it from floatin out by groundwater.

East and west is a tradition like somebody else had already stated. When Jesus Christ rapturs His church [graves opened at the first resurrection]-those Christians will be raised up and face Him as He will appear in the Eastern sky. Athiest of years ago buried with their heads pointin south because they didn't want to be raised to face Him. Never could understand that. If they didn't believe in Him then why would they anticipate facing Him at their resurrection? Oh well seems some traditions remain while others are kinda phased out.

I think somebody mentioned about burin the wife on the right side of the husband. I looked today at an old cemetary. No order their! About half were on one side or the other. Didnt' make much difference when they had died--nuther words-old graves or newer ones. Still no clear tradition.

Talked to an undertaker yesterday. Learned several interestin things rekon. I'm in no hurry to use his services. I've been tell'n ya'll for a long time. I'm not wait'n for the undertaker---I'm waitin on the UPPERTAKER! Glory to God! Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 06, 2001.


Patty, being from NY as well, in our county,Otsego, the planning dept. is compiling a map of all the countys known and unknown grave yards. It seems to be an interesting topic and if you would like more info eithertalk to me or search the web for otsego county planning office in Cooperstown, NY E

-- Erik Miller (enricoestabar@yahoo.com), March 10, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ