A graveyard is a place where people are buried. It can also contain crypts, headstones and other monuments.
Graveyards are often crowded and have limited space for new burials. This problem is particularly acute in urban areas where the cemetery cannot expand due to land development.
Visiting loved ones interred in a graveyard can be a distressing experience. Visitors sometimes leave small timber remembrance crosses or poppy wreaths on the grave site.
Graves
A graveyard is an area adjacent to a place of worship where people are buried. During the Middle Ages, wealthy and influential Christians were typically interred inside a church (often in a crypt) while less privileged congregants were placed in the graveyard section of the churchyard.
Graves are typically marked with a headstone engraved with the person’s name, dates of birth and death, and sometimes religious symbols. The wealthier the family, the more elaborate and ornate the stone mason work was.
Cemetery grounds are more extensive and can contain multiple burials in a single location. Aside from burials, a cemetery can have memorial gardens where flowers and other decorations are placed. War graves are often marked with a small timber remembrance cross with a red poppy attached.
Crypts
The crypts at Highgate Cemetery are a sight to behold. Each ornate creation is dedicated to a person or group of people housed beneath it. This includes a giant coffee cup in honour of a corporate CEO, a pufferfish in recognition of a chef who died cooking it and a pile of termites to honor the founder of a pesticide company. Bright green moss covers the graves, making them look like they’re part of the forest.
During the Middle Ages, wealthy Christians were interred inside their place of worship in crypts while less-wealthy congregants were buried outside in the churchyard. It was believed the richer you were, the closer you would be to heaven.
Crypts are now used for both burials and cremation. You can also find them in mausoleums.
Niches
A niche is a space in a columbarium wall for holding an urn containing cremated remains. The urn is usually enclosed in a glass front to protect it from the elements. Small objects, photographs and children’s drawings are often kept with the urn.
A graveyard is a designated area where people are buried when they die. It may also be known as a cemetery or a burial ground. A graveyard is an important part of a community. Its caretakers are responsible for maintaining the grounds, including the grave markers and plants. They also look after the funerals and memorial services that take place there.
Monuments
Often, people will purchase a monument to mark the grave site of their loved ones. Some choose to do this during the funeral arrangements while others wait until after the shivah period ends.
In the past, many richer families had a headstone carved with their family name and dates of birth and death. This was to compete with their neighbors and demonstrate their wealth.
In the 19th century, cemeteries became increasingly overcrowded. This led to a risk of public health with the danger of decaying human remains infiltrating water supplies. As a result, landscaped cemetery sites outside of the city began to replace churchyards. These cemeteries were usually run by their own corporations, independent of the churches. They also provided more options for burial.
Caretakers
Although graveyard and cemetery are often used interchangeably, they have very different histories. Graveyards are typically associated with churches and are reserved for Christians, while cemeteries are open to people of all faiths.
In a graveyard, workers dig the grave prior to the funeral service and then back-fill it. Gravediggers usually use a template built to prescribed specifications and may utilize shovels, picks or mattocks. They also use shoring to prevent the grave from collapsing.
A graveyard is typically smaller than a cemetery, and it often contains the graves of a single family or group of people like an old local community. Cemeteries, on the other hand, can be much bigger and can accommodate multiple religions. They are also generally more organized than graveyards.