While no one will have a bone to pick with you if you use the word graveyard instead of cemetery, it’s important to understand the difference between the two. The term graveyard is actually more modern than cemetery, which originated in the Middle Ages.
Before that time, wealthy or influential Christians were generally laid to rest inside a church after death, often in a crypt beneath the floor.
The Difference Between Cemeteries and Graveyards
If you’re not a cemetery expert, it can be easy to get these two places confused. After all, both are locations where people lay the bodies of their deceased loved ones to rest. Regardless of their similarities, there are some important differences that distinguish these burial grounds.
The primary difference is that graveyard is often used to describe a burial ground that’s located within the churchyard of a church, while cemetery can be more widely used to describe any type of large burial site that doesn’t have any religious affiliations.
In some cases, however, the terms are synonymous. This is particularly common when referring to a specific churchyard or cemetery that’s been around for a long time and has accumulated a lot of history. Nevertheless, if you want to be extra careful about the way you use these words, you should stick with using graveyard when talking about old churchyards and cemetery for any modern sites that are not associated with any church.
Cemeteries Are More Modern
Historically, new technologies have been incorporated into cemetery spaces. From corpse roads (early road systems chartered to carry coffins from outlying communities) to funeral trains, masonry to metalsmithing, and laser-etching to QR codes, cemeteries are egalitarian archives of the ways in which people have used technology throughout history.
The rapid population growth of the early 19th century meant that church graveyards were filling up fast, and independent sites called “cemeteries” became increasingly popular as designated final resting places. These are not affiliated with any one particular church, so you don’t have to be a congregant to be laid to rest there, and they are usually located away from town centers to allow for more space.
Many modern cemeteries prioritize minimalism and environmental sustainability, mirroring a cultural shift towards eco-consciousness. This is reflected in practices like natural burial, which eliminates embalming chemicals and metal caskets in favor of biodegradable materials and native landscaping. They also often feature art installations and statues to add a sense of serenity for those who visit.
Graveyards Are More Traditional
The big clue here is in the word itself: cemetery. This implies a more formal setting and a lot of planning went into it before it was set aside for burials. The fact that it is usually located in or near a church helps to add to this impression as well.
Generally speaking, those who are buried in graveyards have either been members of that particular church for a long time or had expressed their desire to be buried there upon death. This contrasts with cemeteries, which are open to people of all faiths or no faith at all.
It is important to understand the differences between these two types of burial locations as they can reveal a lot about the attitudes of the society that uses them. This is especially true when it comes to their use of symbols, aesthetic design preferences and attitudes towards funeral rites, burial practices and the like. This information will come in handy when you decide where to lay to rest your loved ones.
Graveyards Are Often Smaller
During the early days of civilization, people buried their loved ones in church graveyards. However, as the population grew, these church graveyards began to fill up. As a result, independent sites called cemeteries emerged as designated final resting places.
Cemeteries are not affiliated with a specific religion, and they’re generally bigger than church graveyards. This is because they don’t have to accommodate the graves of only congregants. Instead, they allow followers and non-followers to be buried on their grounds.
Using cemetery software can make your operation more efficient by digitizing manual processes like record-keeping. This means fewer mistakes and more accurate information. Additionally, it helps you offer more services like online memorial pages and plot reservations. That way, you can increase revenue by offering what your customers want. This will also improve your reputation among potential customers. As a result, you’ll enjoy better business outcomes in the long run.