(WYTV) - Why do we bury bodies six feet under? If theres one thing everyone knows about graves other than the fact that theyre really spooky at night, its that theyre always six feet deep. As the disease swept the country, the mayor of London literally laid down the law about how to deal with the bodies to avoid further infections. In 1665, the Mayor of England issued orders in London after an outbreak of plague where the dead were to be buried '6' feet deep. Burying the dead six feet under is an important part of many cultures and religions, and it will likely remain so for years to come. It gives you a chance to sum up a persons life in just a few words, to give it shape and express real emotion. This theory is based on logic, but there is no specific reason why one would choose to bury remains exactly six feet deep. The term graveyard is often used interchangeably with cemetery, but a graveyard primarily refers to a burial ground within a churchyard. I have always been fascinated by the way different cultures and societies approach death and the rituals surrounding it. Today, the average depth of a grave is only about 4 feet. Some of the most common reasons are to protect the body from being desecrated, to prevent disease, and to honor the deceased. Throughout history, the practice of burying the dead has been an important part of many societies and continues to be a significant part of funerary rites even today. However, with mass graves being dug for the very poor, the depths of these graves could be as much as 20 feet below ground level. Any deeper may also be more likely to collapse, leaving the gravedigger underneath a mound of dirt. They provide, The Blink Mini camera is a popular choice for homeowners and businesses alike, as it offers, When it comes to keeping your dishes spotless and sparkling clean, Cascade Platinum is a popular, If youre planning on buying a generator, you might be wondering what appliances and devices you, RGB (Red, Green, Blue) fans are a great way to add a colorful and eye-catching touch, In todays world, staying connected to our devices is more important than ever before. The thought is that bodies were ordered to be buried at least six feet underground to prevent the spread of the disease. This depth allows for the casket to be covered by at least two feet of dirt, which helps protect the casket from being disturbed by animals or erosion. What should I put on my fathers day grave? The six feet under rule for burial may have come from a plague in London in 1665. This link will open in a new window. To put a loved one to rest, people must consider the proper types of burial. A hand can reach the grave if a single cut is made. While researching it, I looked through many of the London ordinances for the plagues of the 16th and 17th Centuries, and think that the 6 feet deep requirement occurs first in 1625. euery such Dog or Bitch, and burying the same foure foote deepe at the least in the fields. Read More: What is the job of an Assemblywoman? Grave depth should not be less than four feet and three inches and width should not be less than three-and-half feet if you bury only one person. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. If a burial vault is being used, there is no inherent requirement to use a casket. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Since corpses are seen as unclean or even dangerous, they are often buried at a depth that makes it difficult to disturb them. Others believe it was built in medieval times. The freezing of the soil around a coffin would eventually push the casket back to the surface. In conclusion, there are many reasons why people may have started to bury their dead six feet under. The law eventually fell out of favor both in England and its colonies. Some religions require that shoes be removed before entering holy places. Most sources say that the origin of the term came from 17th century London. In Americas, the laws would differ from one state to another. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online Newsmag is your news, entertainment, music fashion website. If the ground is saturated, soil erosion can lead to deeper grave digging. In the process of figuring it out, they discovered that these regulations arent as standard as we tend to think. However, some states have adopted their own grave depth regulations. Owned and operated by Great Life Publishing, a GreaterGood company. It is often said that death is inevitable and that it happens to everyone. Graves used to be dug and sometimes still are 6 feet under the ground is because soil, when saturated with water, easily acts as a liquid and objects with low density tend to float in the right liquid . This is a classic example of asking the question, being told an answer that seemed reasonable and not worrying about it again. The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the "graves shall be at least six-foot deep." Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. If You Own Land, How Far Above and Below Do You Own? The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the graves shall be at least six-foot deep. Why do we bury our dead six feet deep? : AskHistorians - Reddit Burial practices are often rooted in religious beliefs, and one of the most common reasons why people are buried 6 feet under is to do with the ground itself. The six feet under rule for burial may have come from a plague in London in 1665. Some varieties of ajuga, flowering thyme or even sedum will make colorful seasonal flower cover for the grave. In addition, the burial depth can also be seen as a way to give the deceased a sense of privacy and peace, as well as a way to physically separate the living from the dead. Medical schools in the early 1800s bought cadavers for anatomical study and dissection, and some people supplied the demand by digging up fresh corpses. David stabs Alex in the shoulder, but he fights back and is able to kill him. By 50 years in, your tissues will have liquefied and disappeared, leaving behind mummified skin and tendons. If graves arent that deep, then how did six feet get buried into our cultural lexicon? Many thanks for this, Ian. Desecration is the act of bringing shame to something or someone; it can refer to the act of insulting or dishonoring a person or a deity. In the UK, the guidelines are even more lax to the point that it is literally easier to bury a person on your property than it is to build a garage on your land. Shoes are often made of leather, rubber, or artificial . Why Are People Buried Without Shoes? 7 Reasons to Know Some cemeteries do not allow fresh flowers to be placed on graves. This was because they believed that this amount of soil was sufficient to prevent animals from digging up corpses thus prevent spreading the plague. In low-lying wetland areas like New Orleans, Miller noted, a grave dug six feet deep would likely fill with water. Choose the dishes you want to be served at the. The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the "graves shall be at least six-foot deep." Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. It all started with the plague: The origins of six feet under come from a 1665 outbreak in England. Ammer, Christine. Be the first to know what is on in London, and the latest news published on ianVisits. Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and Chinese grave robbers removed jade burial suits from corpses. Why Are People Buried Without Shoes (You Asked) Burying the dead has been a tradition since ancient times and is still practiced in many cultures today. Its unclear why six feet is chosen as the magic number, but it could be to deter animals from digging up graves. If you get the OK to place more permanent items at a grave, here are some alternatives to artificial flowers: Flowers good for planting on a grave are low-spreading varieties that can handle frequent mowing. Gravedigger theory Randall Willis is a news blogger who likes to write about the latest events happening in the world. The regulations vary from state to state. People are buried underground at a rate of six feet deep due to this. Here are some examples of headstone inscriptions for both parents: Burial plot in a private cemetery: the average cost of a single burial plot is between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on where the cemetery is located, the cemetery facilities, and whether the plot is located in a more desirable part of the cemetery. My dad attended his mothers burial in Highgate Cemetery and after seeing how deep she was buried it put him off burial for life! Pinterest. Finally, it is a way to give the family and friends of the deceased a sense of closure. Choose the dishes you want to be served at the repast for the funeral. At this depth, the ground is still soft enough for people to be buried, but it is also solid enough to prevent subsidence. They probably got their idea from the ancient Egyptians. So, even a grave thats shallow as four feet would be considered acceptable. Answer (1 of 3): I used to work in a cemetery as a teenagerIt was not actually 6 feet deepIt was usually 4 to5 feet deep, dug by a backhoe, filled in by usMost caskets are protected by a further one encased in concrete There is no guarantee that a private grave will be able to hold four adult interments, but ground conditions can change from year to year and from place to place, so there is no guarantee. Today in many regions, rather than simply dumping a body in a deep hole and letting microbes and worms quickly consume it, it is typical to embalm the deceased, then place them in a sturdy coffin designed to last many years, then to seal all this inside concrete in the ground, after which dirt will be placed in to fill up the in-ground tomb. (WYTV) - Why do we bury bodies six feet under? Apparently, it all started during the 1655 bubonic plague in England. Where I practice as a funeral director, in Texas, the law does not speak to the bottom of the grave, but the top. People may have also buried bodies 6 feet deep to help prevent theft. The mystery behind the practice is surprisingly long, varied, and steeped in cultural and religious beliefs. It all started with the plague: The origins of "six feet under" come from a 1665 outbreak in England. As the disease swept the country, the mayor of London literally laid down the law about how to deal with the bodies to avoid further infections. Burying a body 6 feet deep may have been a way to stop animals from smelling the decomposing bodies. In particular, flood-prone areas like New Orleans wouldnt want their dead to follow the six feet under rule, since it will only result to waterlogging and coffins springing from the ground. What You Need To know, How To Connect RGB Fans To Motherboard: A Step-By-Step Guide, How Long Does A Portable Charger Take To Charge? Personal choice is quite important when it comes to our final resting place, and the decision should be based on it, including different factors. Graves in such locales are typically less than two feet deep, reducing (but not eliminating) the coffin's chances of gradually floating toward the surface. Some say that six feet is deep enough that animals wouldnt be able to smell decomposing remains. Instagram. Many religions also believe that the earth is sacred and a place of rebirth, which is why they bury their loved ones 6 feet under. This led to new burial practices, such as embalming, where the dead are preserved with various fluids to prevent bodily fluids from seeping out of the body and contaminating the ground. Burying the dead in the ground is also thought to be an act of submission to . In Americas, the laws would differ from one state to another. A typical gravedigger, even if he is small, could still use a shovel to dig out dirt and get inside. In some cases, the remains of multiple individuals may be found in a single grave, and great care must be taken to ensure that all individuals are properly identified and accounted for. Christianity, for example, is one of the main religions that believes humans should be buried 6 feet under. You may be able to deepen the sides of a grave by adding more earth to the sides if it is too shallow to bury a loved one. Third, it is a way to keep animals from getting to the body. Accept. Why are graves usually dug six feet deep? Happy Reading!!! Why Are Graves Dug 6 Feet Deep? - Verywell Health In fact, there can be a requirement for a shallow grave if the water table is high, as there is a need for at least one metre of soil between the water table and the bottom of the grave. In some, coffins or burial vaults would only need 18 inches of soil on top of them. (WYTV) - Why do we bury bodies six feet under? Find Out Here, Clear Blue Says Pregnant With Book Symbol: A Guide To Understanding The Book Symbol On The Test, How Much Does A Chromebook Charger Cost? Another theory out there is that the tradition of burial 6 feet deep began in the late 18th century in the United Kingdom. Can you stop someone putting flowers on a grave? Can A Wife Be Buried In Arlington? - CLJ What are the four personality types ABCD? So today we commonly assume that burials are six feet down. After a couple of years your beloved family gets whatever is left to bury, burn, compost, fire up into the firmament or whatever else you wanted/theyve decided to do; the law of the land notwithstanding. In some cases, the practice dates back centuries and has been adopted by many different societies around the world. Why are graves 6 feet deep? To Prevent the Spread of Disease As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies 6 feet under would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. For others, it is a way to respect the remains of their loved ones. There are those who will never leave a grave without taking their casket with them. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer a dignified . (WYTV) Why do we bury bodies six feet under? The Chinese, for example, bury their dead at a depth of 12 feet, which was meant to keep the living away from the deceased. This article originally appeared in 2012. Most states have no laws prohibiting home burials. Another health-based reason why people are buried 6 feet under is that it is thought to be the safest depth for the ground. Add the birth and death dates. When someone dies, their body is typically placed in a casket and buried six feet underground. There are many different ways to go about it when it comes to burial, and people need to know the reason behind the depth of the grave to find out why it is necessary. But for now, lets learn why we refer to the dead as being six feet under.. The people at Today I Found Out now have an answer to this morbid question. Continue this thread. Cemetery FAQs. Division of Cemeteries. subject to our Terms of Use. Many people believe that graves are always 6 feet deep. Other theories proposed as to how the six feet deep idea came to be embedded in popular consciousness include that it started via the general rule of burying someone as deep as they were long. FRESH FLOWERS. A grave must be carefully recorded and excavated after it has been identified as such. It all started with the plague: The origins of six feet under come from a 1665 outbreak in England. (WYTV) - Why do we bury bodies six feet under? For safety reasons Why are dead bodies buried 6 feet underground? You can also simply donate your body to plain old science. The sad fact is there there are many theories, but few facts. Here are some of the most common assumptions. The word cemetery (from Greek , sleeping place) implies that the land is specifically designated as a burial ground and originally applied to the Roman catacombs. Why Are People Buried 6 Feet Under - WHYIENJOY Of course, as with most things in life, there are exceptions to even this loose guideline and its technically possible to bury a person in an even shallower grave in some rare circumstances. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. The phrase six feet under was coined in the 1600s by a well-known publisher. New Testament 2023 Great Life Publishing and GreaterGood. Hoffner, Ann. Other tests have shown that dogs can smell as deep as six times that depth. This link will open in a new window. There are several reasons why the family might not want to give away the deceaseds shoes. It is possible that burying a body 6 feet deep was used to avoid the animals from smelling decaying bodies. The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the "graves shall be at least six-foot deep." Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. In determining where to bury a loved one, it is critical to consider the dimensions of the grave and the reasons why they differ from the norm. Eco-friendly burials are on the rise. It seems that shallower graves made a comeback for the poor, and more ornate tombs for the rich, but it was something else that was to see the deep burial return the arrival of the body snatcher. Demarcated edges of graves and a site plan created with GPS to plot the graves in relation to other features on the landscape should be used. The Reason Why The Dead Are Buried Six Feet Below The Ground Another common sense theory is that when graves were dug by hand, a man wouldnt be able to get out of enclosures that were deeper than six feet. The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the "graves shall be at least six-foot deep." Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. For example, in Texas, graves must be a minimum of three feet deep. For example, in areas of land prone to flooding or high water tables, bodies cant typically be buried any deeper than the supposedly traditional six feet due to the risk of them becoming waterlogged and even rising from the Earth like terrifying wooden icebergs. The deeper a body is buried, the more time a grave robber would need to extract the body and remove the treasure. When I worked at the cemetery we always buried lawyers at 16 feet. How to Survive Being Buried Alive in a Coffin, The Difference Between a Coffin and a Casket.