What You Might Notice in Cemeteries: Cemetery Superstitions
Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Cemetery Superstitions and Traditions
Cemetery superstitions and folklore have shaped burial traditions for centuries. During cemetery visits, many people notice mysterious details – coins on military graves, oyster shells near headstones, or ornate iron fencing. These aren’t random decorations; they’re meaningful cemetery superstitions and traditions passed down through generations. Here are the answers to the questions visitors ask most often about cemetery superstitions.
Looking for symbol meanings? Check out our complete guide to gravestone symbols to understand what the carved images on headstones represent.
Why do I see coins on military graves?
Military Honor Tradition: Coins left on veterans’ graves carry specific messages. This practice became popular during the Vietnam War as a way to honor fallen soldiers without potential political conversations with families. Learn more about veteran burial benefits from the VA.
Each coin tells a story: A penny means “I visited to pay respects.” A nickel says “we trained together at boot camp.” A dime indicates “we served together.” A quarter carries the most profound message: “I was with you when you died.”
What happens to them: Cemeteries collect these coins monthly and use them for cemetery maintenance and to help cover burial costs for veterans in need.
🪙 Quick Coin Reference
Penny
“I visited”
Nickel
“We trained together”
Dime
“We served together”
Quarter
“I was there when you died”
What do oyster shells on graves mean?
African American Tradition: In many African American cemeteries, particularly among Gullah communities, oyster shells placed on graves represent a powerful spiritual connection to the sea and ancestral homeland.
Spiritual Significance: The belief holds that just as the sea brought their ancestors to foreign lands, it will also carry their spirits back to their homeland in the afterlife. The shells serve as a bridge between this world and the next.
Local Connection: In Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, scattered oyster shells hint at the many unmarked African American graves within the complex, serving as quiet reminders of a community’s enduring traditions and resilience.
Why did people wear black to funerals?
More Than Mourning: While black clothing showed respect and mourning, it also served a protective purpose. Black was believed to make the living less visible to spirits who came to escort the deceased to the afterlife.
Spiritual Protection: Mourners didn’t want spirits to make any mistakes and accidentally take them along too! This belief was especially strong during the Victorian era when death customs became elaborate.
Modern Echo: Today’s tradition of wearing dark colors to funerals stems directly from these protective beliefs, though most people now view it simply as showing respect.
Do the types of flowers on graves matter?
Victorian Flower Language: During the Victorian era, specific flowers carried distinct messages. Marigolds expressed sorrow and grief, roses conveyed love and remembrance, and lilies represented the soul’s restored innocence after death.
Fresh vs. Wilted: The condition of flowers was considered crucial. Fresh flowers honored the dead and showed ongoing care, while wilted or dead flowers were seen as bad omens – suggesting the spirits felt forgotten or neglected.
Practical Advice: If you can’t visit regularly to refresh flowers, artificial arrangements were considered better than leaving wilted ones. The intention to honor matters more than the material.
Why are cemetery fences often made of wrought iron?
Spiritual Barriers: Iron has long been believed to repel spirits and supernatural entities. Wrought iron fences served as both physical and spiritual boundaries, keeping unwanted spirits out while protecting the sacred space within.
Multiple Purposes: These fences also had practical functions – preventing grave robbing, keeping out animals, and clearly marking sacred ground. But the choice of iron specifically relates to its protective spiritual properties.
Local Connection: In Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, the Presbyterian Cemetery installed a beautiful wrought iron fence around 1903 following an actual grave robbing incident. This fence serves as a tangible reminder that these protective measures weren’t just superstition – they addressed real security concerns of the era.
Cultural Variations: While some cultures believe iron repels malevolent spirits, others see these fences as ways to keep the dead peacefully at rest, preventing them from wandering.
Are there “rules” for how to leave a cemetery?
Walking Backwards: Traditional folklore says you should walk away from a grave backwards to prevent the deceased’s spirit from following you home. Walking forward supposedly made it easier for wandering souls to “tag along.”
Additional Protection: Some traditions include carrying rosemary or salt in your pocket while visiting cemeteries to ward off any spirits that might try to follow you home.
Modern Interpretation: While most people no longer follow these practices literally, they reflect the deep human need to create boundaries between the world of the living and the dead, and to feel protected when entering sacred spaces.
Remember: These traditions reflect the rich cultural heritage surrounding death and remembrance. Whether you choose to follow them or simply appreciate their historical significance, they offer fascinating insights into how different communities have honored their dead throughout the centuries.
Want to explore more cemetery history? Visit our local cemetery tours or learn about gravestone symbol meanings.
