Sitting on a grave stone may be considered disrespectful by some people, as it is a place where a person is buried and may be considered sacred. It is best to show respect and avoid sitting or climbing on grave stones.
Don't sit or lean on the headstones, grave markers, or other memorials.
tThe tradition of placing the casket/shroud covered body in the grave with the head to the west is common, and people know about it. At the same time, the feet are to the east. The body would be placed face up.
It is totally okay for a memorial bench to be sat on. The idea for these memorial benches is for the death of that person to come to something useful or helpful while still celebrating the memory of the person.
When it comes to tombstone name etiquette the order of names is generally: First Middle Last nee Maiden name (if applicable). This can be altered to include nicknames as such: First (Nickname) Last or First (Nickname) Middle Last. You can also include the maiden name in brackets like so: First Middle Last [Maiden].
Respect the Graves
Don't touch any monuments or headstones; this is not only disrespectful, but may cause damage to the memorials, especially older ones. Never remove anything from a gravestone, such as flowers, coins, or tributes that have been left by family.
Upright Headstones: Granite or Marble
The upright granite and upright marble headstones are 42 inches long, 13 inches wide and 4 inches thick. Weight is approximately 230 pounds. Variations may occur in stone color; the marble may contain light to moderate veining.
Flowers are beautiful, vibrant, and add color and life to any cemetery plot. If you've chosen a flat grave marker, many of those come with a built-in vase to place flowers in that does not add unsecured décor to the cemetery. Many cemeteries may also let you place a small plant on the grave as an alternative.
Essentially, a gravestone is placed at the head of the grave, and a headstone is placed at the foot of the grave.
The Terms “Headstone”, “Gravestone” & “Tombstone” Can Be Used Interchangeably. Each term, “headstone”, “gravestone” and “tombstone” used to have very different meanings that were clearly separate from one another. That is no longer the case now that time has seen all three terms evolve into the same meaning.
Cenotaph - a grave where the body is not present; a memorial erected as over a grave, but at a place where the body has not been interred. A cenotaph may look exactly like any other grave in terms of marker and inscription.
Other visitors may want to be alone. - Don't touch any monuments or gravestones. They are very meaningful to the families who placed them there. Some older memorials might be in disrepair and might fall apart under the slightest touch.
No running, yelling, or rolling around on the ground. This is not a place for childhood games. Don't let them play on any of the monuments. While it is good to get children used to paying respects at a cemetery, they often don't fully understand the meaning of everything in the cemetery.
Spiritual teachers and biblical references suggest that our beloved departed ones may know when we visit their grave, and people may feel a sense of being watched or comforted when they visit a loved one's grave.
It is recommended that vertical headstones should be placed no sooner than 6 months after the burial. This time will allow the rain, gravity, and other elements to compact the soil. Some cemeteries may require a full year to pass, while others might only recommend 6 to 8 weeks.
Granite grave markers that are well maintained can last for up to 500 years! If you want a gravestone that will last for generations, bronze is the way to go. It's so durable that civilizations have fashioned tools from the copper alloy for thousands of years.
Among the most hard-wearing and durable materials for headstones are granite and marble. Granite headstones in particular will withstand many years of weathering.
The flower anchor clip is typically used to clip onto the metal saddle, often used in a saddle floral arrangement that drapes over the top of a headstone. This tethers the flower arrangement to the headstone and prevents it from being blown off.
Headstone Falling Over
Most monuments fall over very slowly due to a lack of stable foundation. Two things that can impact a foundation's stability are its base material quality and the soil's stability supporting the foundation.
These stones remind them that someone they care for was visited, mourned for, respected, supported and honored by the presence of others who've visited their memorial. The Hebrew word for pebble is also a word that means “bond.” By placing a stone on the headstone, it bonds the deceased with the visitors.
Definition of 'pay one's last respects'
If you pay your last respects to someone who has just died, you show your respect or affection for them by coming to see their body or their grave. The son had nothing to do with arranging the funeral, but came along to pay his last respects.
"Talking or being on your phone during the service is one of the most disrespectful things you could do at a funeral," says Myka Meier, Beaumont Etiquette founder and etiquette expert. It's important to be as present as possible. " Silence your phone, shut off your phone, or even just leave it behind.