Cemetery is a place where people are laid to rest. It is usually a large landscaped area. It is often located outside of towns and cities.
It is a place where people visit to pay respects to their deceased loved ones. Mourners leave flowers and other objects on the grave.
Graves
The grave is the physical place where the body of a deceased person is placed. This may be done in a casket, within a vault, crypt or ossuary. It can also be surrounded by a monument such as a headstone.
A grave may also be lined with a protective liner, such as a concrete liner, for protection against ground movement, to avoid crushing of the remains or for a number of other reasons.
Many people have a natural curiosity about cemeteries and the life that was lived there. A gravestone is a tangible link to the past and provides a place for families and friends to come together and remember. It fosters a sense of belonging and a strong legacy that is preserved for generations to come.
Burials
A burial offers survivors a permanent place to grieve and visit their loved one. Oftentimes, headstones can display special messaging or tributes to the deceased.
People have buried their dead since prehistory for various reasons, including to prevent the odor of decomposition, to provide a dignified resting place and to give the deceased a return to the cycle of life. Some cultures also believe that burial is a necessary step for the soul to enter the afterlife.
Other groups, such as the Bali Aga and Aborigines of central Australia, expose their dead to the elements and carrion-consuming animals (tree burial). Today’s cemeteries offer traditional ground burials in single, companion or family plots, along with areas for urn gardens and aboveground columbariums. Most burials occur within days of death.
Monuments
For some, a visit to a cemetery is an opportunity to reflect on their past and to share memories of loved ones who have passed. A visit to a cemetery can also improve spiritual and philosophical awareness by prompting contemplation of the meaning of life and death.
In some cultures, graves are marked with large monuments erected to honor the departed. These may feature religious symbols, figurative sculptures and even portraits. Similarly, in war graves, small timber remembrance crosses are placed which can be affixed with a poppy.
Other grave markers, known as ledgers, offer a substantial surface area for inscription. These often include the name of the deceased, dates and epitaphs. Throughout the world, different religions and cultures use different symbolic images for monuments, including animals, plants, flame, celestial objects, and more.
Columbariums
Columbaria are a popular option for families who prefer to bury cremated remains in a permanent and serene place. These structures can be found in cemeteries, churches, funeral homes, and memorial parks. They are often designed with a serene, tranquil environment in mind to offer peace and reflection for visitors.
While the cost of a columbarium is typically higher than that of a niche, it is still an affordable and long-lasting option for families who want to honor their loved ones in a beautiful way. Today, many columbaria and niches are personalized with engravings, photographs, and symbols that reflect a family’s heritage or values.
These trends demonstrate a shift towards honoring individual legacies and creating meaningful memorials for families. As the demand for cremation increases, we expect to see continued growth in this trend.
Segregation
Across religions and cultures, the cemetery has always been a place of mourning and honor. But segregation has been a persistent and sometimes deadly problem, especially for Black communities.
As this article demonstrates, many Black Americans who were denied access to white cemeteries built their own spaces as “a form of resistance.” Today, those Black burial grounds often are neglected and forgotten—even though their families continue to fight for them.
In 1996, for example, a church deacon in Thomasville, Georgia, tried to have the body of a baby girl exhumed from the Barnett Creek Baptist Church cemetery because her father was black. The attempt screamed of a desperate desire to extend, by force of collective hallucination, racial whiteness beyond its embodied, biological life. This thwarted attempt speaks to how fragile the idea of whiteness is.