What’s the Meaning Behind the Direction a Tombstone Faces? (2024)

FAQs

What’s the Meaning Behind the Direction a Tombstone Faces? ›

Religions or Beliefs

It started with Ancient Sun Worshippers

The practice of burying the dead so their face would face the rising sun goes back to ancient Egyptians and Greeks who worshipped the sun god. According to their beliefs, it was most appropriate for their dead to face the sun to greet each new day.

Although most cemeteries you visit will face east, some older cemeteries may not. When civilizations navigated directions using the position of the sun, it was much more challenging to determine true east—many didn't consider that the sun changed position every day.

You might have heard that you should face a headstone to the east. This influence came from early religions that worshipped the sun. Many Egyptian temples were built so that the dead faced east. Christians believed that if the deceased were buried to face east, they could rise again on the day of resurrection.

Why do some graves face north/south? Often, it's simply because the cemetery is on a property bounded on several sides by north/south and east/west roads, and making the rows of graves parallel to one of the sides means you don't end up with wasted triangles of land.

Certain positions of the church like bishops, cardinals, and priests are said to be buried facing the west. This is so that they will keep looking after people even after they've died, and so that they can guide their followers when there's the second coming.

Then there is Matthew 24:27 (NKJ): “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be ...” thus for the Christian believer in the resurrection of the dead, placing the body facing east will allow the dead to see the Second Coming of Jesus.

Although there was no canonical requirement, it was in fact customary for people to be buried facing the east, reflecting the traditional Christian belief that, at the end time, Jesus would return from the east.

Therefore, graves were always dug six feet deep to prevent body snatchers from gaining access to the buried remains. Another issue that people were worried about was animals digging up graves. An ancient practice of burying dead people six feet underground may have helped mask the odor of decay from predators.

This tradition has roots in Christian custom, where the deceased was buried with their head to the west and feet to the east, allowing them to face the rising sun and Jesus upon resurrection. Footstones, which accompany headstones in many historic cemeteries, are smaller stones placed at the "foot" of the grave.

Is it disrespectful to walk over someone's grave? ›

Do their best to not walk over the graves. Common sense leads you to know the basic shape of a grave; walk in between the headstones, and don't stand on top of a burial place. Follow cemetery rules. Most have a sign near the entrance stating hours, rules about decorations, etc.

Essentially, a gravestone is placed at the head of the grave, and a headstone is placed at the foot of the grave. Gravestones are usually larger than headstones and are slightly larger.

This cross appears as a standard Christian cross, with a circle around the place where the beams meet. The circle is meant to symbolize eternity. Celtic crosses often have what's known as “knotwork” carved into them. Knots in Celtic culture symbolize resurrection and everlasting life.

It's actually more for safety. “People get very worked up about this whole 'Do not stand on a grave,' 'Do not walk across a grave,' as if it were an etiquette issue,” Snider says, “but it's really more of a safety issue, mostly in older cemeteries.”

One theory is that long ago husbands decided their wives belonged on their left side, the side closest to their heart. Other theories hold this placement is a reflection of a couple's wedding day. When walking down the aisle, the man is traditionally standing to the right of his bride.

A sideways cross indicates that the crucifixion is over. Jesus Christ has already laid down his life, been removed from the cross, and risen from the dead. Hence, this symbol of Christ's finished work shows faith that the departed soul will be resurrected.

It certainly seems feasible that some grave markers have backward letters simply because the person who made the stone didn't know any better, especially in cases where the stone is crudely made.

With weather conditions, shifting soil, and the simple passage of time, headstones can lean out of plumb or even topple over.

There is no requirement in church law regarding the position of burial. The only thing that comes close is a reference in the Roman Ritual of 1950 (no longer in effect) that stated that at the funeral Mass the coffin was to be placed so that the feet of the deceased should point toward the main altar.