Why graves are six feet deep

Many people just got themselves seeing graves being dug six feet deep but there must be reasons as to why this done. This is because they mistakenly thought that the deceased if not disposed properly, would spread diseases across the land. The six feet was to prevent or slow possible spread of illnesses. But at some time throughout the centuries, the phrase became connected with the idea of death.

The phrase was used figuratively that decade in both a movie review and an article about the end of a baseball team. What started out as instructions for burial evolved into an idiom describing death. The use of the phrase is so widespread today that most assume that laws state that bodies must be buried at that depth.

There is no standard depth that graves must be dug in the US. The regulations vary from state to state. Eco-friendly burials are on the rise. When doing their end-of-life planning , some are choosing not to be embalmed or placed in a vault. In fact, some people wish to be buried in a shallow grave because they want the decomposition of their bodies to benefit the surrounding trees and bushes.

If bodies are buried too deep, they may not decompose as quickly. An eco-friendly burial would be at the depth where there are the most active bacteria and insects in the soil. For single gravesites, roughly 4 feet deep is closer to the norm.

An exception is double- or even triple-depth plots. In these plots, caskets are "stacked" vertically in the same gravesite. A single grave in one of these plots might be 7 to 12 feet deep.

It's not clear where the "6 feet under" idea came from. It might have been for the safety of the gravedigger, or to make grave digging easier. People may have also believed it would keep bodies from being disturbed or prevent the spread of disease. In the United States, there are no nationwide rules outlining how deep graves should be. States usually have their own rules. Generally speaking, most graves dug today are only about 4 feet deep.

They most often are not. The term "6 feet under" is a euphemism for being dead and buried. The term may date back to the London Plague of , when the Lord Mayor of London ordered that all "graves shall be at least 6-foot deep" under the presumption that doing so would prevent the spread of disease. In the United States, the laws regulating the depth of graves vary by state.

In Texas, for example, graves must be deep enough so that the coffin is covered by two feet of soil. In New York, there must be at least three feet of soil. Many other states only require 18 inches of soil and sometimes less. The traditional term is a "gravedigger," although the title is considered by many to be ghoulish. Today, these cemetery workers are often referred to as burial ground custodians. Technically, there are only three U.

A few other states will only allow home burial if a funeral director is involved. The majority of states have no law forbidding home burial, but speak with your local authorities including the health department and local funeral commission to ensure you follow state laws governing all burials. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

City of London, England, Court of Aldermen. Orders conceived and published by the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London concerning the infection of the plague. University of Oxford Press. Word Health Organization. Risks posed by dead bodies after disasters.

Published February 6, University of Oxford. Updated April 18, Cemetery FAQ's. Depth of graves. In other words, not only do they need to be deep enough to accommodate the casket within the grave itself, but there must also be a sufficient amount of undisturbed earth between the casket and the ones beside it.

Cremation is the reduction of a deceased body back to its essential elements with intense heat — ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The trend of eco-friendly burials is also rapidly picking up pace.

This burial method forgoes embalming, vaults, and other bells and whistles altogether to allow a body to benefit surrounding trees, plants, and wildlife as it returns to the soil. For this reason, the deceased might be placed in a shallower grave so that active bacteria and insects in the dirt can break down the remains efficiently, allowing nature to work its magic. Prime Mutual has been helping seniors compare the best final expense insurance companies throughout the United States since We believe in educating our clients, building trust, and assisting them plan for end of life expenses.

With a growing population of seniors in retirement, it is more important than ever to have a financial plan in place to help struggling families honor their loved ones. This entry was posted in Cemetery , Cremation. Bookmark the permalink. Prime Mutual is an independent life insurance agency that enables customers to research and compare final expense insurance companies, policies and rates.

Level, graded, modified and guaranteed issue life insurance quotes are available for seniors, parents or individuals ages Each rate is provided by the life insurance company and may be subject to change.

No portion of this website located on finalexpenseinsurance. Why do we bury our dead underground, anyway?