Why are headstones at the feet?

A footstone or foot marker is a flat square monument made of stone that sits at the foot-end of a grave. They were originally commissioned together with a headstone to signal the length of a burial site.

What side of the headstone is the body buried?

Typically, the husband is buried on the left, whereas the wife should be on the right, as you're standing at their feet. The position isn't ordinary, and it's the same that couples have while they're getting married. In some cemeteries, the tradition hasn't disappeared, and it's the most common for couples.

Why are graves dug 6ft deep?

People may have also buried bodies 6 feet deep to help prevent theft. There was also concern that animals might disturb graves. Burying a body 6 feet deep may have been a way to stop animals from smelling the decomposing bodies. A body buried 6 feet deep would also be safe from accidental disturbances like plowing.

What is the purpose of a foot stone on a grave?

The footstone may simply mark the foot of a grave, serving as a boundary marker for the grave plot, but more often provide additional information about the interred decedent. A footstone usually contains the initials of the person whose grave it marks.

Why are you not supposed to point at a grave?

Even pointing at a grave could bring bad luck. Given the proliferation of photos of graveyards, that means a lot of people have been willingly courting bad luck! According to one website, collecting epitaphs means the collector will lose their memory.

Family Horrified As Foot Lands On Adjacent Coffin

Why do people hold their breath while passing a cemetery?

#1: Holding your breath when you pass a graveyard

Some people believe it's to avoid making the ghosts jealous (you know, because you're alive and can still breathe) while others do it to avoid breathing in any spirits.

Do people hold their breath when passing a cemetery?

They also add that tucking our thumbs into our fist while passing a cemetery will protect our parents. In research by an author named Sanguinarius, they state that we hold our breath because "you will either wake a spirit with each breath or else you, still being alive, will make the spirits jealous." Noted.

Can a husband and wife be buried in the same casket?

Yes — Depending upon the cemetery's policy, you may be able to save a grave space by having the cremains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her. Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremated remains to be interred in a single grave space.

Why is the woman buried on the left?

One theory is that long ago husbands decided their wives belonged on their left side, the side closest to their heart. Other theories hold this placement is a reflection of a couple's wedding day. When walking down the aisle, the man is traditionally standing to the right of his bride.

Why do people put pennies on graves?

Col. Dave Taylor, a Vietnam War veteran, explained the tradition and the reason behind it. A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier's family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respects. If you leave a penny, it means you visited.

Why do they cover the legs in a casket?

Tradition, Region and Culture

Many people choose a casket that covers their loved one's legs simply because that's how it's usually done in their country.

Why are you buried without shoes?

Rigor mortis and other body processes make the feet larger than usual and often distort the shape. Many times the shoes of the deceases no longer fit. Even with the correct size, the feet are no longer bendable, making it a challenge to place shoes upon them.

Why is cremation forbidden?

Cremation and the Catholic Church

Catholics were to believe that man, created in the likeness of God, could not experience resurrection at the end of time unless their bodies were “intact.” Cremation was also banned to counter Roman pagan beliefs, which involved burning deceased bodies.

Why do caskets open on the left?

During a wake or open-casket visitation, only the “head section” (the left side of the casket in the photo above) is opened for viewing, revealing the upper half of the deceased's body. Both sections of the casket's lid open, however, to facilitate placement of the body within by funeral service professionals.

What is a grave without a body called?

Cenotaph - a grave where the body is not present; a memorial erected as over a grave, but at a place where the body has not been interred. A cenotaph may look exactly like any other grave in terms of marker and inscription.

Why do funeral directors bow at the coffin?

So why do Funeral Directors bow at coffins? Respect. The aim when working with any family is to show their loved one as much dignity and respect as possible. Even though this person may not be walking on this earth any longer does not mean that they deserve any less respect.

Can two bodies be buried in the same grave?

Companion plots: Companion plots are two plots that are sold together for a couple, usually a married couple. Companion plots can be two plots side-by-side, or a single plot in which the caskets are buried on top of each other (often referred to as “double depth”).

Can bugs get into a coffin?

Coffin flies have that name because they are particularly talented at getting into sealed places holding decaying matter, including coffins. Given the opportunity, they will indeed lay their eggs on corpses, thus providing food for their offspring as they develop into maggots and ultimately adult flies.

What is the difference between a gravestone and a tombstone?

Originally, a tombstone was the stone lid of a stone coffin, or the coffin itself, and a gravestone was the stone slab that was laid over a grave. Now, all three terms are also used for markers placed at the head of the grave.

Does a body get drained before cremation?

Is a body drained before cremation? Draining a body of fluids does not happen before cremation. If a body is embalmed before cremation, the bodily fluids are exchanged (drained, and then replaced) with chemicals during the embalming process. These chemicals are also fluid.

Can two bodies be cremated together?

Also known as commingling, mixing cremated remains is illegal unless it is specifically requested by the deceased. This simply comes down to a matter of personal preference of the deceased. Most cremation chambers will not mix the remains of your loved ones—they'll usually leave that up to the family to do.

Do all graves face the east?

Regardless of religious connections, graves facing east are far more predominant than graves facing any other direction. Many cemeteries, churches, and funeral homes set certain restrictions such as burying the dead facing the east for ease of maintenance and aesthetic purposes.

Why do you pick your feet up over state lines?

Why? Some believe that it's a silent way of saying thank you that you made it through said yellow light without being hit by another car or pulled over. Another driving superstition states that you should pick your feet up from the floor and pedals when you're going over a bridge or over a railroad track.

Why does Bruno hold his breath and cross his fingers?

Bruno also performed several other well-known behaviors meant to prevent bad luck, including throwing salt over his shoulder, avoiding stepping on cracks, and both holding his breath and crossing his fingers while passing through doorways.

Which part of the body does not burn during cremation?

People are often surprised by how much cremated remains they get back after a body has been cremated. All bones are left they do not evaporate. The bones are then reduced in size to a granular consistency.