Many people use the terms cemetery and graveyard interchangeably, but there is a difference. A graveyard is a burial ground that is affiliated with a church and usually only allows members of the same religion to be interred in it.
When population growth began to accelerate in the 19th century, church graveyards filled up and new independent sites for burying people came into existence. These were called cemeteries.
Origins
While the terms cemetery and graveyard are sometimes used interchangeably, they have different meanings in some places. A graveyard is a specific type of cemetery that is usually connected to a church.
Providing a burial place for a loved one is an ancient custom in most cultures. Families often create shrines at the graveside, decorating them with flowers and other items. Some people even leave wind chimes, toys, and statues of angels or cherubs. Although cemetery officials try to limit the number and types of objects placed on graves, some families still create large collections at their loved ones’ memorials.
Before a cemetery could be used for Christian burials it had to be sanctified. This process included public penance by the deceased, payment of reconciliation fees, and a ceremony that involved sprinkling holy water over the ground. This process took several months. Once the sanctification was complete, the churchyard became a graveyard. The term cemetery first appeared around the 7th century.
Meaning
The word graveyard describes a yard or other inclosure where people are buried. It can also refer to a burial ground in general.
During the Middle Ages, rich and powerful Christians were buried inside their churches in crypts, while less wealthy congregants were buried outside the church in its graveyard. As the population grew, it became apparent that church graveyards would not be able to sustain all of the burials. Therefore, new sites for burial, independent of a particular church, began to appear and were called cemeteries.
As a result, it is important to distinguish between the terms graveyard and cemetery. Although the two have a similar meaning, they differ in a few key aspects, including space, location, religion, and headstone requirements. The difference between the two is so slight that many people use the words interchangeably, but for those who want to be more precise when discussing their work, there is a difference. Learn the difference between graveyard and cemetery, so you can make informed decisions about your own funeral plans.
Etymology
A graveyard is land that is used to bury the dead. It is also known as a cemetery or a churchyard. Often, people use the terms cemetery and graveyard interchangeably. However, there are differences between the two, such as space requirements, location, religion, and headstone requirements.
A churchyard is a space that is attached to a church and can only be used for burials by members of that church or religion. A cemetery is a larger piece of ground that is not associated with any specific church and can be used for burials by anyone.
In the early 19th century, rapid population growth led to church graveyards filling up quickly. This caused people to seek out independent burial sites that could be used by everyone. This resulted in the creation of the modern cemetery. During this period, people buried the dead in individual crypts with a headstone that included their name and date of death.
Usage
When a Graveyard is played correctly, it can easily win a game for you. However, it’s also a very risky card to play, as a well-timed Poison can destroy it. Because of this, it’s best to play Graveyard with splash units, like Goblins or the Lumberjack, which can take out any defending Skeletons.
Another useful way to use a Graveyard is to pair it with a tank, like a Giant or a Valkyrie, and then cast it behind your opponent’s King’s Tower. This can make it difficult for them to activate their Tower, especially if they’re using Zap.
One common problem with re-using old graves is that it can be hard to locate living relatives who may object to the re-use. The best solution to this problem is for a cemetery to publicly announce that it intends to re-use older graves and then ask families to respond to the announcement. In some cases, families will accept the re-use of their loved ones’ graves.