Graveyards are burial grounds that are affiliated with a church. They tend to be smaller, and often fewer people can be buried in them.
The word “graveyard” is derived from the proto-Germanic word “graban” which means to dig. It is also related to the word “groove”.
Cemeteries are a place of final resting
A cemetery is a place set apart for burial or entombment of the dead. They are shaped to reflect geography, religious beliefs, social attitudes, and aesthetic and sanitary considerations.
The landscape of cemeteries can change over time. The older versions of cemeteries were characterized by a more lush landscape with lots of flowers, trees, and monuments.
Today, people tend to choose a cemetery that is close to home and in a location that they are comfortable visiting. They also want their final resting place to be a place that is well maintained, secure, and private.
In the past, public gatherings were common in cemeteries, and people would often have picnics there. These activities were banned in many places as epidemics and overcrowding caused problems.
They are a place of worship
A churchyard is a patch of land that adjoins or surrounds a particular place of worship. In Christian countries this can refer to both a church and a burial ground.
However, in many places the word graveyard is used to refer to a cemetery which does not adjoin a specific church. This is because the churchyard was a place where families could bury their loved ones, while cemeteries were more modern burial grounds that were separate from the church.
Throughout the history of mankind, providing a burial site for the dead has been a common practice. The ancient Hebrews, for example, hewed oblong recesses lengthwise into rock temples to allow their dead to be laid to rest.
They are a place of healing
Visiting a graveyard is a ritual that can help families heal after the loss of a loved one. It allows them to remember and reflect on their loved one while also allowing them to take some time for themselves.
A graveyard is usually a part of church property where people are buried. This is because it was a common practice in many different cultures for families to be buried together.
However, this is changing and a lot of people are choosing to be buried on their own. This means that the word cemetery is used more often to describe independent burial grounds.
The word cemetery comes from Greek koimeterion, which means “a sleeping place.” Early Christians used this term to describe their own burial grounds. In contrast, pagan culture referred to cemeteries as nekropolis, or “a city of the dead.”
They are a place of celebration
During the day-honored Appalachian tradition of Decoration Day, mountain people gather at their family cemeteries to clean and prepare the graves of their loved ones. The graves are then decorated with fresh flowers and personal mementos to keep them alive in the community.
In some countries, cemetery sites are festival places on special occasions set aside to honor the dead. They may be simple or elaborate and are sometimes regarded as holy fields or taboo areas.
Churches sponsored most of these graveyards, but as population growth began to outpace them in the 18th century, new places for burial were created independent of churchyards. These sites became known as cemeteries, from the Greek koimeterion (sleeping place).