Other theories are based on the etymology of the phrase. Six feet is a safe depth at which you don't need to install supports to avoid a cave-in or collapse. In the United States, the average depth of a grave is 6 feet because of our history of religious services. There is no absolute rule that determines the depth or width of a grave based on the dimensions stated in these guidelines. There was also an old tradition that burials may have been as deep as the dead person was tall hence around 5.5 feet or thereabouts, but that may date from after the plague. Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. Fourth, it is a way to keep the body from being seen by people who may be walking or driving by the cemetery. Is Bathing Your Feverish Child Helpful or Harmful? Why Are Dead Bodies Carried Feet First? - Tovisorga.com All charitable donations are paid by Greater Good Charities to benefiting organizations as a grant. Throughout history, the reasons behind the practice have varied and are often cultural and ceremonial in nature. If you bury three people, the depth should be eight feet and the width should be five feet. The sudden decision to go for a very deep grave could have been down to fears that shallow graves would let the plague spread through the air as the bodies decomposed. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used the deep-grave method in their cultures. In a nutshell, the phrase 6 feet under refers to death. How many unknown soldiers are buried in Arlington Cemetery? Although a number of excavations have failed to recover human remains, at least a portion of the site is not considered to be a grave. Thus, people are buried 6 feet under as it is thought to be a respectful distance between humans and animals. 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. According to some cultures, the burial depth is meant to symbolize the passage from life to death, as well as the transition from the profane to the sacred. There are even those that are deeper than 12 feet and the reason for this is so that there will be more space for other dead bodies to be placed in the same grave usually relatives or loved ones. When I worked at the cemetery we always buried lawyers at 16 feet. Is cremation a sin? Real flowers. Some people want to be buried in a shallow grave in order for their bodies to decompose naturally, as well as for the trees and bushes around them to grow. (WYTV) - Why do we bury bodies six feet under? Deep burial is a practical way to deter grave robbers and animals. 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. Some of the guesses derive from common sense. Since a lot of the rules surrounding private burials in the UK are derived from fairly archaic legislation, there are only a handful of guidelines you need to adhere to, including filling out a few forms, informing people where the body actually is and making sure its not buried near water. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles. It all started with the plague: The origins of six feet under come from a 1665 outbreak in England. Pick the music you want to have played at your services. , research burial grave depths in your area. Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. In general, however, most caskets are buried between three and six feet below the ground. In regards to location, this too can effect the depth at which a body can be buried. Another reason is to allow room for the body of the deceased. Eventually, there was no need for a standard measurement of the graves depth. 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. The Gruesome Tale of the Laughing Death Epidemic, The Greatest Air Race of All Time Which Helped Give Us the Global Airline Industry, An Ode to Glorious Chips (And Who Invented Nachos), What Those Nasty White Chunks That Sometimes Come From Your Throat Are, The Difference Between a Fact and a Factoid, Marilyn Monroe was Not Even Close to a Size 12-16, A Japanese Soldier Who Continued Fighting WWII 29 Years After the Japanese Surrendered, Because He Didnt Know. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. Are todays graves six feet deep? I remember my grandfathers burial in the early 70s he was buried at manor park London. The standard depth of a grave is 6 feet, as mentioned earlier. I hope to provide a comprehensive and informative resource for anyone interested in learning more about graves, cemeteries, and funerals. Buy Now. If graves arent that deep, then how did six feet get buried into our cultural lexicon? Add the birth and death dates. It all started with the plague: The origins of "six feet under" come from a 1665 outbreak in England. Unearthing the Mysteries of Burial and Cemetery Law. October 2017. One may want a grave that is wider or deeper depending on a number of factors. Accept. This theory is based on logic, but there is no specific reason why one would choose to bury remains exactly six feet deep. Loss is hard. The six feet under rule for burial may have come from a plague in London in 1665.