Visit a Cemetery Day

Visit a Cemetery Day takes place on the last Sunday in October each year. For many, this is a traditional day on which it is necessary to visit the places where relatives and friends are buried. Despite the fact that our relatives and friends are not with us in the physical plane, they will forever remain in our memory. Making this date a tradition can help us to remember and honor our loved ones.

History

Cemeteries have existed for a long time and the concept has not changed to this day. Cemeteries are not only a place for those who have left forever, but also a place for thoughts about the eternal, and for meditation. When looking at the tombstones of different people, many people are reminded of the shortness of life, and that it should not be put off until later. Visiting cemeteries helps us to feel a connection with the dead, and to remember the impact our relatives have had on our lives.

Interesting facts

• In some Jewish communities, “black weddings” are played on cemetery land. It is believed that the ritual will relieve the crisis, pandemic, and other negative events.
• In India there is a New Lucky restaurant, which was built on the site of an old Muslim cemetery. The graves were left right in the middle of the tables!
• In the state of Vermont there is an ice cream cemetery – there you can see real tombstones where bad tastes of goodies are buried.
• In Israel there is a grave of Harry Potter – a real person who fought against the British army. Today it is a tourist attraction.

How to take part

Visiting a cemetery, cleaning up the graves, and sitting next to the dead on Visit a Cemetery Day are all ways to honor our loved ones. Cleaning up the unknown graves too, if you see that they are not visited, is a great way to pay it forward to those who have been forgotten. Speaking with tombstones helps many people to cope with the grief of loss.

When is Visit a Cemetery Day celebrated in 2023?

Visit a Cemetery Day is observed on the last Sunday of October each year.

Observations