To Symbolize Their Visit
Many people leave stones on a loved one's grave or memorial to mark their visit. The symbol of the stone can bring comfort to family and friends, letting them know their loved one has been visited, grieved and prayed for by others, too.
Digging holes, planting flowers, shrubs or trees on a burial space is not permitted at any time. 4. Mylar balloons, glass items, ceramic items, items with metal or wooden rods, (like flags or pinwheels), or items taped to or wired to a vase, crypt or niche shutter are not allowed at any time. 5.
The exclusive right of burial (or grave deed) is sold for 75 or 99 years. For a cremated remains plot, the exclusive right of burial is sold for 75 or 99 years. These are known as 'purchased graves' and although you never actually own the ground you do own the exclusive rights to bury in your purchased plot.
If you aren't sure, simply try to dress in a conservative way that shows respect for the family and other mourners. For men, a suit and a conservative tie is usually a safe bet. Women should generally wear a conservative dress, skirt, or pants with a tasteful blouse.
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.
Get permission and follow any rules laid down by the property owners. Cemeteries, temples, ruins, etc., are most likely owned and managed by some entity, whether it is a church, local government, historical society, etc. Be sure they are okay with you visiting and doing photography there. Get a permit if required.
As a General Rule: No Photos Inside
Unless you have been specifically asked by the family of the deceased to do so, it is not appropriate to take pictures inside a funeral service or at a grave site. People in attendance at the funeral may be in mourning, or even crying, and taking photos is an invasion of privacy.
This act is simply a way of paying one's respects to the deceased. The two most common items placed at gravesites are flowers and stones. However, many people choose to leave mementos of a more personal nature such as photographs, angels, and small trinkets that have their own significance or special meaning.
- Walk over graves
To go along with the theme of respect for the dead, don't walk over or stand on top of graves or burial places. This is just rude, and you may irritate the ghosts.
In Christianity it is associated with the Virgin Mary. A white rose symbolizes purity and virginity while a red rose symbolizes martyrdom.
Grave blankets are customary headstone coverings that are typically used during winter months and holidays. The cemetery arrangements cover a portion or most of the plot and are highlighted with a series of holiday-themed ribbons or flowers.
Touching monuments or headstones is extremely disrespectful and in some cases, may cause damage. For example, some older memorials might be in disrepair and could fall apart under the slightest touch. Be sure to walk in between the headstones, and don't stand on top of a burial place. Be respectful of other mourners.
Officially, James Cohen, professor at Fordham Law School tells Refinery29 that trespassing is a criminal offense for which you can be arrested and convicted. He adds that jail time is “unusual,” but can happen, in which case you'd spend fewer than 30 days behind bars.
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.
There aren't many rules when it comes to these visits apart from what the cemeteries list on their websites, but it is always a good idea to ask for permission to picnic at the cemetery office, which we did. The rest of it is just common sense, and can be summed up in two words.
Depends on the cemetery rules. In some cemeteries the stuff is just left there. In others, it's removed periodically no matter how long it's been there (2 days or 2 months).
What's really returned to you is the person's skeleton. Once you burn off all the water, soft tissue, organs, skin, hair, cremation container/casket, etc., what you're left with is bone. When complete, the bones are allowed to cool to a temperature that they can be handled and are placed into a processing machine.
If the coffin is sealed in a very wet, heavy clay ground, the body tends to last longer because the air is not getting to the deceased. If the ground is light, dry soil, decomposition is quicker. Generally speaking, a body takes 10 or 15 years to decompose to a skeleton.