BellaOnline Forums Books and Music Poetry Wandering around in the cemetery

I guess it's kind of a wierd thing to enjoy, but... I like to walk around in cemeteries and read the engravings on the stones--especially the older ones. I don't think it's being disrespectful or anything. I like to read the epitaphs on the stones (see the article on epitaphs on the site) and picture what the person was like.

In the traditions of my West Tennessee family and that of my Irish and Italian ancestors, it used to be VERY normal to take the children and a picnic and spend Sunday afternoons and certain holidays at the cemetary.

This is one of the times that the families would walk and look at the family headstones and tell stories. A great way of sharing history and familiarizing children with a cemetary on a happier day. I "visit" my grandparents with my son and do the same from time-to-time though I am sure many think I am "weird".

Kitty

PS.:I also like to take "rubs" with chalk and thin paper of some of the older headstones and do research for local families.

Actually Kitty, I have lots of rubbings taken from graves hanging in my living room! I've got a truely lovely celtic knot that was taken from one of my ancestors tombstones.

My husband is really into ghosts, and ghost hunters. A few years ago, we went to a cememtary with a tape recorder. I must say, what we heard on that recording changed our minds about ghosts!!! Anyway, Cemetaries are in memory of the dead buried there, and how would they be remembered if we didn't spend time to read what is written on the stones?

Kitty, some of my family roots are in southeastern Kentucky, and they have family reunions at the old family cemeteries! I guess that way no one misses the party! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I think I've learned more history about the town I grew up in by wandering around the cemetary with my aunts and uncles. I think they can tell you something about ever single grave in it. LOL!