While researching your family history, it is important to visit cemeteries. Take a camera with you to photograph the headstones. Make sure to record full names and dates. You may also want to leave a flower or coin.
Historically, graveyards were affiliated with churches. But as church burial grounds filled up, new sites appeared that were independent of the churches.
A place where people are buried
As a general rule, people are buried in graveyards that adjoin churches. In the past, nobles and rich people were buried in crypts beneath or inside their church. As the population grew, it became impossible for churches to keep up with the burial demands. This led to the development of new burial sites called cemeteries. These are generally not affiliated with any particular church and non-religious people can be buried in them.
Those who are considering burial should consider how far their loved ones will have to travel to visit the grave. It’s also important to check local zoning laws regarding the location of graves. Some communities have setback regulations that prohibit a grave from being too close to buildings or property lines. This is usually to prevent the potential for fire hazards or flood risks.
Etymology
Although it is common to use the terms graveyard and cemetery interchangeably, there are some important differences between the two. A graveyard is a large ground used for burial and is usually attached to a church. A cemetery, on the other hand, is an independent burial ground that is not attached to any specific church or religion.
A recent Facebook post claimed that the etymology of phrases like “dead ringer,” “graveyard shift” and “saved by the bell” linked them to 16th-century English burial practices. However, linguistics experts say that this claim is false.
Meaning
Despite the fact that many people use the terms graveyard and cemetery interchangeably, they actually have different meanings. Graveyard refers to the burial ground that adjoins a church while cemetery is a more general term that can refer to any type of burial ground.
It is also important to know that a mausoleum is not part of a graveyard or cemetery. Mausoleums are independent structures that contain the ashes of a deceased person and may or may not be religious. Using the words graveyard and cemetery interchangeably is acceptable today, but for those who want linguistic precision, it is best to use graveyard when referring to burial grounds on church property and cemetery for modern, separate burial grounds that are not affiliated with any specific place of worship.
Origins
The term “graveyard shift” is derived from the fact that it’s late work hours, usually midnight to 8am. It has nothing to do with watching over graves, however.
Until the nineteenth century, people were buried on land that was associated with a church (as in churchyard). As populations increased, these areas became full and new burial sites emerged, called cemeteries. These were unattached to churches and more secular.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, skulls and crossbones motifs were common on headstones as a reminder of mortality. By the Victorian era, however, this macabre tradition had largely died out and was replaced with more serene classical iconography in keeping with Georgian taste. Today, most cemeteries are not connected to a church and can therefore place few restrictions on the quantity of objects that can be placed on headstones.
Significance
In a magical context, graveyard dirt can be used for both creative and destructive spells. The most important consideration is choosing the right gravesite to collect the dirt from. It’s best to choose a grave of someone who has had a positive impact on your life. If you can’t find a suitable gravesite, you can also use the dirt from a tree or other plant in the cemetery.
While the terms graveyard and cemetery are similar, a graveyard is generally smaller than a cemetery and is associated with a church. It’s also important to consider the rules regarding headstone inscriptions in your chosen cemetery. Some are more restrictive than others. For example, a graveyard may require a more subdued design and conservative Christian inscriptions.