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Archiver > CEMETERY > 1997-08 > 0870787980


From: "John Rathbone" <>
Subject: Burial Traditions
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 09:33:00 -0400


From John Rathbone via
Regarding the tradition of not walking over graves, I was raised that not
only was it disrespectful to the dead, but it had a very practical aspect,
too. When I was a lad (many years ago), I visited my departed Grandfather
and was told by my mother that we avoided walking on graves because there
had been cases of old graves collapsing when someone walked over them,
causing injuries and "grievous harm." Small children do not always
understand that they may be hurt when a grave collapses suddenly beneath
their feet, but they can understand that it is not polite to trod upon the
dead.
The tradition of burial with feet toward the east is in reference to the
great day of resurrection when, as Micha O'Neal wrote, the dead will rise
to face the east where they will see the Son. I thought this a local
tradition, too, but a man who had worked in cemeteries for years advised me
of this tradition.
Thought I'd throw in my two cents' worth.

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