Wednesday, April 12, 2017

What is the Deal with Cemeteries?






I've seen movies like "Phantasm", 'Drag Me to Hell", and "Poltergeist." They've all scared the ever-lovin' be-jeebies out of me. I'm not a fan of scary movies or devil movies or zombies or the like. 

But, I LOVE cemeteries! What is my deal with Cemeteries? 



They are lovely and old and gracious and peaceful... 



The photos above were taken on a beautiful morning in Dominica, in the capital city of Rousseau. We had a bit of trouble locating the town cemetery on this Caribbean island, and our conversation with the local policia was hilarious! 

A cemetery is a burial ground, plain and simple. 




We found this roadside cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. 




Intact and cremated bodies may be interred above or below ground in graves or mausoleums. 





The pics below were found in a gorgeous church in Florence, Italy. 
Can't read Italian, but I am pretty sure those are graves! 






There may be acres of freshly mowed green grass, or weed-strewn partially hidden old markers. Certain famous cemeteries are gorgeously maintained.



Arlington National Cemetery 



... and still others are likely tended by family members or local volunteer organizations. This is one of my all-time favorite cemeteries in the town of Cambria, California. Just up the hill near their pedestrian shopping is the historic Cambria Cemetery. I just could not take enough pictures of this quaintly special place. 






Every single grave had some type of carefully chosen mementos for their loved ones. 




And it was so lovingly and well-cared for throughout. 





We wandered through the small town of Haines, Alaska beneath towering trees and literally stumbled upon these hidden grave markers. We were looking for a short-cut back to our cruise ship, and found this hidden gem of a cemetery. No signs, no upkeep, just headstones. Fabulous. 













I love the old cemeteries with the above-ground headstones and monuments and sculpture and statues. And Angels, I love Angels!











Cultural and religious aspects of burials and sacred grounds abound. From about the 7th century on, Christians were buried only in consecrated grounds under church control.

 This bishop was interred with a marble sculpture in his likeness, within the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany.

Later throughout the Industrial Revolution, certain diseases were traced back to improper burial procedures and cemeteries moved outside of town limits so as not to re-infect the locals. Churchyards and other cemeteries have become overcrowded in recent years due to population growth.

Gravediggers and cemetery caretakers work to prepare graves for mourning family members, ensuring correct grave depth and dignity for the deceased. But what about those cemeteries that re-use their burial grounds, tombs, and above-ground monuments. In the deep south, Louisiana especially, graves are routinely re-used for generations of family members.







But, what about the superstitions that surround cemeteries? Are legends, ghostly tales, and zombies accurate portrayals of what goes 'bump' in the night on these hallowed grounds? Do practitioners of Black Magic, Vodoo, and Witchcraft gather round graves to honor their spiritual beliefs?

One of the most famous Vodoo Queens is Marie Laveau, a Louisiana woman of Creole heritage. She and her daughter both were widely followed practitioners and highly revered in the Vodoo community. Marie (the elder) also peddled booze in New Orleans and reportedly had 15 children. She was busy!!


 Visitors are only allowed entry into St. Louis Cemetery #1 with a paid tour/guide. Too much vandalism near Marie's Grave. It's a visit well worth your time and money!



I am drawn to the beauty, the reverence, the peacefulness of cemeteries, wherever we travel. The pics below are from a small village cemetery in Switzerland near Trummelbach Falls. Our visit with our dear friends led us here one afternoon and I searched the headstones for family names. We are an "Imhoff" family from three generations back. No luck...







There are sobering tributes to the dead throughout our world. On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor as a preventive military action to keep the United States Navy from interfering with the war in the Pacific. Coordinated attacks on that day included Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Six aircraft carriers launched over 300 fighter planes and bombs killing 2,403 Americans and wounding 1,178. Pearl Harbor photos below show the Memorial located in Honolulu, Hawaii.










Also here in the United States, one of the most beautiful tribute memorials is the National September 11th Memorial in New York City. This tribute of remembrance honors the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the four coordinated terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the field of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Over 6,000 additional people were wounded in the attacks. Property damages exceeded $10 billion in costs and over $3 trillion in restorative damages.



The area surrounding the memorial with the Museum and new office buildings. 



The Reflecting Pools



There are two reflecting pools that measure over an acre in size each, and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. Names of the deceased are inscribed surrounding each pool as a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life from a single terrorist attack on American soil. This peaceful memorial is a beautiful honorarium and tribute.


Two at Rest...

This may be one of my all-time favorite cemetery pics. Here we see two at rest... one below ground and one man seeking a respite during the day. Photographed in Antigua near their downtown shopping area.


So thankful to have someone walking beside me snapping pics along the way - He'll even slam on the brakes so I can grab a cemetery pic from the car.
... Jeff & his beloved Wyatt wandering ahead in Cambria Cemetery.

Until next time,
:) Deb 

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