Keep the volume of voices down, and don't use offensive language. Don't be overly friendly when talking to strangers. Other visitors may want to be alone. Don't touch any monuments or gravestones.
- Ask for permission for night-time visits
If you wander into a cemetery after dark, you need to get permission, or you risk getting into trouble. While visiting in the dark may seem the scariest, you still need to be respectful of the rules of the cemetery and get permission to be there at night.
He describes cemeteries as “semi-public spaces,” akin to shopping malls, where folks go “mall walking.” In the same way, “it's perfectly fine for runners to use privately owned cemeteries for walking or running, so long as they do so in a respectful fashion,” says Eggener.
Answer: The intact or cremated remains of people may be interred in a grave, commonly referred to as burial, or in a tomb, an "above-ground grave" (resembling a sarcophagus), a mausoleum, columbarium, niche, or other edifice. In Western cultures, funeral ceremonies are often observed in cemeteries.
Leaving flower arrangements at a gravesite is perfectly fine, but be careful what they're stored in. Some mourners want to leave their flowers in a vase to keep them fresh for longer, which is a big no-no. Most vases are made of glass or plastic, and can get broken.
The primary purpose of cemeteries is the dignified disposition of human remains in accordance with provincial statutes and municipal by-laws. They also serve as historical, memorial, spiritual, aesthetic and passive recreation greenspaces within the urban environment.
Don't sit or lean on the headstones, grave markers, or other memorials. It's not very respectful. If you're planning on being there a long time, bring a little travel chair.
Myth: Don't Point At Graveyards
Pointing at a cemetery falls into that category. While it is considered rude to point at anyone, gesturing towards a tombstone or cemetery won't invite ghosts into your body.
No. There are genuine mourners at these, and it is offensive to them. Hanging out with the dead might seem fun for you, but those who have recently lost a loved one, the last thing they need are some black-clad twits giggling and humping the headstones.
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.
A bishop or his designee has the honor to impart a blessing on a new cemetery. He walks around the boundaries of the area while sprinkling holy water. He continues the sprinkling over the entire grounds.
It is customary to show your respects by viewing the deceased if the body is present and the casket is open. You may wish to say a silent prayer for, or meditate about, the deceased at this time. In some cases the family may escort you to the casket. The length of your visit at the wake is a matter of discretion.
Why are cemeteries so peaceful? You may find a cemetery peaceful because it can help put life into perspective. People have set cemeteries aside as hallowed ground. Most people are on good behavior while visiting.
It's fine to take pictures, visit, even do graveyard rubbings (charcoal rubbings of graves), picnics, or just walk around and look. As long as what you do is done in a respectful, undamaging way.
Visitors to the grave may recite supplications and recitations recommended by scholars. Visitors are strongly advised not to step on or over a grave or sit on a grave. Visitors are strongly discouraged to express sadness by wailing hysterically in a loud voice as this goes against the etiquettes of visiting graves.
Muslims are permitted to visit the grave and cemetery of non-Muslims for a time of reflection and remembrance, and to show honor for the deceased and the relationship shared. Muslims should not, however, participate in any funeral ritual or custom of a non-believer.
God's Word Forbids the Practice of Talking to the Dead
Consider Leviticus 20:5-7, the Law of God opposed such practices and clearly warned the people to pursue holiness.
Provides a comforting tradition
At first, the tradition may be sad, but over time, visiting the grave becomes a joyful and peace-filled ritual that brings comfort and keeps a loved one's memory alive and strong.
It has been used to prevent the odor of decay, to give family members closure and prevent them from witnessing the decomposition of their loved ones, and in many cultures it has been seen as a necessary step for the deceased to enter the afterlife or to give back to the cycle of life.
The word “cemetery” has its origins in the Greek word for “sleeping place”, and is land meant for burial. The term was originally applied to the Roman catacombs. A graveyard is a term that can be used interchangeably, but refers specifically to a churchyard burial ground.
If a rose bud is shown in the grave art it is likely the headstone of a child under 12. A rose in partial bloom signifies the life of a teenager or before their prime. A rose in full bloom symbolizes a person who died early in life, in their prime: 20s-30s.
White is often the traditional color chosen for funeral flowers. White roses signify purity, innocence, honor and peace. If the person who has passed on was an elderly and well-respected person in your community, this may be an appropriate choice of flowers to take along to the ceremony.
Some of the better behaved but durable plants include spring bulbs such as daffodils and crocuses, summer-blooming bulbs such as lilies, and durable perennials such as salvia, iris, daylily, sedum, catmint, dwarf Russian sage, hardy geranium, dwarf aster, black-eyed susan, purple coneflower, threadleaf coreopsis, ...