The graveyard is the resting place for those who have passed away. It is often used to indicate a church-affiliated burial ground, but it can also be used to describe a separate site.
The word cemetery comes from the Latin coemeterium and ultimately from Greek koimeterion. The two terms have similar meanings, but cemetery is usually a bit more modern.
Definition
A graveyard is an area of land where people are buried. Traditionally, a graveyard was located next to a church. But as burials increased and churchyards filled up, independent sites called cemeteries came into existence. While many people use the words graveyard and cemetery interchangeably, linguistic accuracy calls for using the term churchyard for burial grounds associated with a particular place of worship and cemetery for more modern, non-church-associated sites.
The word graveyard comes from the Old English term for a garden or enclosure, and it is derived from the Proto-Germanic verb root graban (“to dig”). It also shares roots with the noun yard, which means an enclosed space surrounded by walls. The etymology of the word cemetery is less clear. It may be related to the Latin coemeterium, or it could stem from the Greek word koimeterion, meaning “bedchamber.” Both terms are used in the English language today. See also graveyard shift, a reference to working late at night.
History
Although it is common to hear the words graveyard and cemetery used interchangeably, there is some difference. The term graveyard originally referred to a burial ground that was attached to a church, while cemetery is used for more modern grounds that are not connected to a religious place of worship.
Until about the 7th century, burials were firmly controlled by the church in Europe. As a result, members of the congregation who were buried would be laid to rest in the part of the churchyard designated as the graveyard.
Mourners who could afford to hire a stonemason had a headstone carved with their name and other biographical information set up over their place of burial. Those who could not afford such an expense usually had some type of wooden cross erected. This custom continued until the early 19th century, when it was discontinued due to increased outbreaks of infectious disease and limited space in graveyards.
Symbolism
Symbols, or icons, are a common feature on gravestones and can tell you something about your ancestor. These symbols often represent virtues that they exemplified, values they held dear, or aspects of their work. A walk through a cemetery can be more than just a sad and morbid experience when you learn to “read” the symbols on the stones.
Winged faces (Soul Effigies): Originally these carvings of a human face with wings became popular in the 18th century as a more cheerful alternative to the grim skull and bones on Puritan tombstones. Over time they evolved into cherub faces which symbolized purity and innocence.
Ivy carved on a gravestone symbolizes friendship, fidelity and immortality. It also signifies rebirth and regeneration due to the hardy nature of the plant and its evergreen lead.
A clad hand on a gravestone symbolizes devotion or piousness. It may also be a reminder of the work the deceased did in his or her lifetime. An open book is often engraved on gravestones to signify love of books or learning and, in the case of religious gravestones, the holy bible.
Maintenance
A cemetery must be maintained on a regular basis to keep the grounds attractive and safe for visitors. This includes mowing and trimming the lawns, cleaning headstones and monuments, and removing any overgrown vegetation or fallen leaves. The cemetery must also provide a centralized record keeping system for listing all plots, interment details, and grave ownership information. Using cemetery management software can simplify and streamline this task.
When performing maintenance on a tomb it is best to begin with safety issues such as loose or unstable markers that could cause injury. It is also important to prioritize tasks based on the needs of each individual site. This can help to ensure the tombs are in good condition for future generations. The cemetery must also continue to meet its financial obligations. This includes the costs for labor (gravediggers, landscapers, and memorial service directors) as well as property taxes, business license fees, and non-labor security expenses. In some cases, the cemetery may have to re-use existing graves to save space and keep costs down.