The Do's And Don'ts of Visiting A Cemetery
With so many creepy activities to choose from in the fall, you may want to up the ante this year. Maybe you're bored with haunted houses or corn mazes. Perhaps you didn't get a lot of ghostly action at a haunted hotel. So you decide to go directly where there are dead people—the cemetery.
Cemeteries are places of mystery, and not one many of us spend a lot of time in. Even though the idea may thrill you, there are certain things that you need to take into consideration before heading out to a cemetery after dark or at other times of the day. It is important to remember that while it can be a creepy place to visit, it is also a sacred burial place. The dead buried there are real people with families still earth-side.
Do
-Be respectful
Cemeteries are generally pretty quiet and should stay that way. Although you may not bother the dead (or maybe you will if they're still hanging around), there may be other people who won't appreciate you being loud. Be sure not to blast music or carry on loud conversations. There may be others there who are trying to grieve and it can be distracting. You want to be sure to be respectful.
-Know the rules for the place you're going
Even though it may seem like cemeteries are always open, that is not the case. Many cemeteries will have certain hours where you can go in, and this usually excludes nighttime visits. Be sure to obey these rules of the cemetery, so you don't get cited for trespassing.
-Ask for permission for night-time visits
If you wander into a cemetery after dark, you need to get permission, or you risk getting into trouble. While visiting in the dark may seem the scariest, you still need to be respectful of the rules of the cemetery and get permission to be there at night.
-Visit the cemetery in the daylight before going in at night.
If you do get permission to visit the cemetery at night, be sure to check it out during the day first. Look for potential dangers in the daylight that you may have trouble with in the dark. If you are heading to an older cemetery, there may be open vaults and graves that you could fall into. Watch out for areas that animals may inhabit also, so you don't accidentally run into them at night. You could end up with a nasty scratch or bite from one of them.
-Keep kids and pets in check
If you bring kids or your pets to the cemetery, it is important to keep them in check. Pets should have a leash, but if there is a funeral going on, you probably shouldn't bring them out anyway. They can be a lot to handle.
For kids, they need to understand that a cemetery is not a playground. They shouldn't be running, yelling, or rolling around on the grass. While it may be hard for them to understand what a cemetery is all about, it is good to get them used to it. Be sure they aren't climbing on any of the gravestones or monuments, both for their safety and because some of the stones could break.
Don't
-Go into private cemeteries
Unless you have permission, private cemeteries that belong to a small group or single family are off-limits. These are not public spaces and shouldn't be treated as such. You risk trespassing if you go into someone's private cemetery.
-Hop over locked fences
Cemeteries may lock their gates during certain hours. If you have to climb a fence to get in, you're trespassing and shouldn't be doing that. It is not respectful or worth the risk. If you go to a cemetery and it's locked, leave it alone and return at another time.
-Wander around during a funeral
This one is for if you show up during the day and there are other people there grieving. If there's already a funeral going on, show respect to the family and either wait or come back another time. No one wants to be bothered on these kinds of days, so it is important to respect that.
-Touch the gravestones
There are a few reasons you shouldn't touch the gravestones or memorials. One of them is that they were placed there by the families of the dead. You should respect that they don't belong to you, so it's not appropriate to touch them. Another reason is that some of them are really old or in disrepair. If you start touching them, they could begin to crumble or fall apart. Don't make etchings of them, place things on top, sit on them, lean against them or touch them.
-Walk over graves
To go along with the theme of respect for the dead, don't walk over or stand on top of graves or burial places. This is just rude, and you may irritate the ghosts. Show them the respect they deserve, and don't do these things.
-Take photos of other people
If you encounter others at the cemetery, don't take pictures of them or the area while they're there. Many of them may be grieving, and that is one of the worst times to get your picture taken. You also shouldn't take pictures of people without their consent anyway no matter if you have a perfect shot or not.
-Drive on the grass
Some cemeteries are large, but that doesn't mean you can go driving around on the grass. Be sure to follow all roadways and any traffic signs within the cemetery. You should also be on the look out for others as they may be distracted, especially if they're grieving.
-Be super friendly to others
Many times people are at the cemetery to grieve or visit loved ones. They may want to be left alone, so use your best judgment when it comes to talking to strangers in the cemetery. Some may be okay with talking to you, but a lot of them probably won't.
-Litter
Be sure to pick up after yourself while visiting a cemetery. Littering makes more work for the caretakers of the cemetery and is disrespectful of people going there to grieve. Either put your trash into designated receptacles or pack it up and take it with you.
While a cemetery visit can be super intriguing for a scary evening, be sure to follow the guidelines above. From general respect to breaking the law, there are things that you need to keep in mind before your visit. If you have those all in check, enjoy your spooky time at the cemetery!
