At the advent of the 21st millennium, the cemetery concept is being redefined, in which cemeteries aren't just repositories for in the gift dead. Consequently, an growing of cemeteries are converting to themselves into multipurpose facilities which in turn funerals, interment, and cremation are merely among the services they provide. The extension of hospitality services to look at tourism, photography, and passive recreation (e. g. pedestrian, walking, reading, quiet contemplation) and can include weddings, baptisms, bar- and not just bat-mitzvahs, private parties, web business seminars, lectures, and may possibly floral shows, festivals, experience specials, and concerts can be attributed to for factors:
1. Culture - the design of death has changed to the inevitable somber event to produce a celebration of life, sharing of treasured memories and a chance to acquaint oneself with long lost friends (though not without tears).
2. Environs - the construction of bright comforting climate-controlled mausoleums and connected with serene cheerful urn backyards are challenging and supplanting typically the paradigm that cemeteries you have to desolate, melancholy tombstone filled repositories. Many with their picturesque landscapes made from "magnificent trees, rolling bluffs, glacial lakes, " fish ponds, gorgeous fountains, and even wildlife and likely museums are "oases amid the sprawl of contemporary development. "[1]
3. Historical - of one's interred, and array issued architecture and monuments, cemeteries offer you a connection to the past and documentary your evolution of human back ground, perceptions, and emotions as captured by its changing architecture ranging while simple, weathered 18th one hundred year tombstones, elaborate (sometimes eroding) 19th century mausoleums and sculpted angels and allegorical quantities, 20th century rediscovery their particular simplicity, and 21st century photographic and wish to interactive (audio and pics on demand) tombstones.
4. Financial - To alleviate its annual operating deficiency of $100, 000+ Oakwood Cemetery (Troy, NY) held a daffodil brunch both in Gardener Earl Memorial Chapel and Crematorium noted for its Siena marble membranes and spectacular Tiffany windshield, and an outdoor Renaissance Truthful featuring knights in suits. Other cemeteries are pursuing the same model and so are building state-of-the-art mausoleums to increase efficiency.
5. Many older cemeteries especially those nearing the end of their active lives as many deplete their available burial space need to have to reinvent themselves to check continued financial viability.
Currently, several schools now regardless offer cemetery studies and/or obtain field trips to cemeteries with the objective of encouraging appreciation within unique historical perspective to your specific place. As a consequence, Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, NY) yet others offers "opportunities for young adults studying Art History, Creators Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Archival Firelogs, American History, American Culture and other related fields. "
According to of the teacher, Cara Bafile, the annual class day at the cemetery has "become a awaited tradition [in which some beg to go back]. " School trips it's not necessarily cemetery, though are definitely not new. Back in the early 1970s the very author's school field trips was to a local cemetery if you find every student was stunned at the largest graves even as looked at the hued markers for style and he has age (e. g. exactly what is the oldest tombstone, who existed the longest, etc. ).
Tourism:
Though tourism to cemeteries may sound morbid to some, both in words of Jessica Ravitch, Cemeteries spare tourists (CNN 2008), it happens to be "can be inspirational [and] life-affirming... [It can be] a history and architecture lesson [because they are exceptional archives of human and architectural history - thus The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers guided tours of seven of the City's cemeteries charging between $5 to $30 per person], a frequent cultural appreciation course, a genealogical journey plus a source of relaxation. " Some even consider it as a service to individuals that cannot make the trip perfectly as a reminder of the preciousness of life. "Many people find fortunately peace and solace in visiting cemeteries typically their own relatives won't be buried there, " publicised Janet Heywood, trustee against this Association for Gravestone Studies for the article written by Benny Snyder, Tombstone trips: Check out these world famous cemeteries (USA Today, 10 Oct 2009).
Cemeteries also maintain a connection to the past also known as the enhance the learning experience as students and tourists stand by its resting places of famous all those who made significant contributions during their lifetimes. It is like they are right next to credit scoring. Per Gary Laderman, Professor of Religion at Emory University or college (Atlanta, GA) and author of rest In Peace: A Cultural Track record of Death and the Funeral Home the 20th Century, it is a type of "chance for civic engagement as a treatment for social isolation of up to now significant places. "
Furthermore, even though cemetery tourism is regarded the new "in" thing or maybe the latest trend, it is almost not a new phenomenon. Many cemeteries just as Pè re Lachaise (Paris, France) (established when you're 1804 by Napoleon Bonaparte) in which Maria Callas, Modigliani, Fré dé ric Chopin, and not just Oscar Wilde, among humans, are buried, and Laurel Incline (Philadelphia, PA) have attracted throngs of tourists for almost two centuries. Green-Wood Cemetery (Brooklyn, NY) eventually attracted more than 500, 000 visitors yearly during the mid-to-late 1800s.
Key products to tourists and consumers are tombstones, architecture, art form (e. g. weeping maidens, angels) mausoleums, and necropolises and you'll concerts, lectures, floral concert events, and holiday specials for starters.
While large Victorian-era cemeteries to illustrate Laurel Hill and Green-Wood and you'll New Orleans' Lafayette Cemetery Not any. 1 and St. David Cemetery No. 1, which dates back to 1Wedding Registry, (the latter two of one's above ground tombs), is generally top attractions, small cemeteries and graveyards arent without their own heirlooms.
A quarterly newsletter, Tomb any View that provides a nationwide report on cemetery tours is designed for cemetery-centric tourists. It used subscribed to for $15 per year from P. O. Torso 24810, Lyndhurst, OH 44124.
Photography:
Cemetery digital photographer, contrary to public eyesight, is mainstream and planned. It is even profitable enough that most companies specialize solely in cemetery digital photographer. Accordingly Northstar Gallery's to ensure reads they present "a assortment of sensuous, fine art plans... of cemetery and memorial art world wide [that explore and offer] poetry and site [on] the historical nature of memorial and cemetery art in man's have trouble with mortality, immortality, salvation, passing away and transcendence. "
Also, dependent on tourism, cemetery photography (separate and distinct from post-mortem photography) dates thus to their medium's infancy. It hasn't been long after the daguerreotype have shown invented that photographers recording images of cemeteries. Southworth & Hawes, one of the more famous daguerreotypist duo captured at the least seven images from Moose Auburn Cemetery (Cambridge, MA). By the 1860s with the development of stereoview, cemetery photography gained in popularity with Green-Wood Cemetery and its scenic views such as a favorite among photographers.
Passive Activity:
Passive recreational activities to positively cemeteries date back greater than a century. During the Victorian-era (1837-1901), cemeteries were the main venue when not the only venue of a locale to see passive recreational activities since many urban areas had it doesn't necessarily arboretums, no parks, absolutely no museums. At one point a lot of visitors flocked to Laurel Hill which in turn cemetery had to contrast gate passes and covering Sunday visits to household of the deceased.
Consistent is within the continued popularity of cemeteries for passive plans, Michael O'Hearn in Visit Mt. Auburn Cemetery writes, it "is a temporary retreat through the urban bustle into a world of trees, birds, [chipmunks], bunnies and statuary. While seems unlikely, such places do exist... Mt. Auburn possesses an appealing varied landscape, ponds along with a glens, hills and dells. The plantings and trees can be really thick in places those of above they resemble a forest. The monuments... show numerous styles and themes. " Presenting "winding roads and approaches named after flowers as well trees" Mt. Auburn (founded in 1831 so the nation's first landscaped hardware cemetery) defies connotations because of stereotypical graveyard.
In variety, a November 2009 uncover from Executive Director Brian Sahd of Friends of a typical Woodlawn Cemetery (founded 1863 during the Bronx, NY) states, "Woodlawn is an incredible resource for all of us... [It is much] more than market of rest... [it is one of New York's greatest treasures - rich in irreplaceable architecture, history, culture, and natural wonders... Its 400 acres of rolling hills and monumental architecture invite you to step into a world outside of time. Around every corner is another amazing unexpected discovery. The entire landscape literally is a visual feast of graceful beauty. A Greek temple follows an obelisk, accompanied by the delicate statue of entwined lovers. Azalea bushes bloom under towering elms and graceful willows. Bird songs accompany the play of cottontail rabbits, and chipmunks. A stone bridge spans a peaceful lagoon, surrounded by elegant reminders of New York City's greatness."
Weddings:
Cemetery weddings expand and redefine the paradigm - "...unto death do us part" since death need no longer separate spouses who can be buried together at their wedding site.
As with tourism, even though cemetery weddings are gaining wider acceptance and being held at more venues, they are not a new phenomenon. Since 1928 more than 60,000 weddings have been performed at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Los Angeles, CA) alone.
When Lisa Rigby was requested to photograph Kate's and Daniel's wedding at Mount Auburn Cemetery, she was, in her words, "so excited." "Growing up, I spent so much time in a beautiful, rambling, landscaped cemetery near our house. For us kids the cemetery wasn't some spooky forbidden place. It was where we rode bikes in the summer and built snowmen in the winter. It was where we walked my cocker spaniel, ran and played, and sat to talk with friends for hours on end... I always thought it was sad that so many people were afraid of the cemetery," she wrote on August 21, 2009 in a blog entry about Kate's and Daniel's wedding (all of which the author can identify with having grown up with my brother next to a small historic cemetery for the first seven years of my life in which the cemetery was the setting for many games of chase and hide-and-seek with the neighborhood kids and a lot safer than the parking lot next door).
At the same time, Kate wrote, "[We] were married at Mount Auburn Cemetery... I know it may seem like an odd choice for a wedding, but it's a beautiful place, our favorite in Cambridge. When we walk through it, I find it moving to think about all of the lives that are commemorated there."
When Sheryl and Kurt married in 1990 at Wisconsin Memorial Park's Chapel of Chimes with its church-like setting, vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and wall art depicting the Last Supper that serves as part mausoleum and part museum, the groom thought it "perfectly normal and pretty neat" while the bride added, "our wedding was just like any other wedding" according to an account written by William J. Lizdas in Married in a cemetery? Some adore the idea (JS Online, 20 May 2009).
With increasing numbers of cemeteries opening their gates to weddings, Spring Grove Cemetery's (Cincinnati, OH) website reads, "Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials... We offer a variety of unique locations for you to hold your ceremony. The Norman Chapel... built in 1880 boasts several beautiful stained glass windows... The Garden Courtyard... located in the front area of the cemetery/arboretum... is planted with Hybrid Tea Roses, as well as other colorful annual flowers."
Symbolism and Changing Perceptions:
Cemeteries are replete with symbolism (which provide a means of dealing with mortality and providing a semblance of control over death), carvings and epitaphs (used to shed light on the deceased whom have been reduced to mere names (when they still exist on weathered tombstones) (e.g. "Here lies the remains of Hannah, the Wife of Solomon Gedney, who dep: this life April 1788 Aged 37 Yrs." and "Stop Reader Eer the Passeth this stone nor regardless be told that near its Bass (sic) lies deposited the remains of Mary Dixon, Wife of John Dixon, a woman whose reputation was spotless and whose life was spent in the practice of virtue having by her unshaken fortitude and native independence of Soul commanded the esteem of all who knew her. She departed this life August 12th 1811 aged 53 years" etched on tombstones in Eleazor Gedney Burial Ground, Mamaroneck, NY) and the values, hopes (e.g. "She is not dead, the child of our affection - But has gone to realms above" etched on a tombstone for Paulina, daughter of Charles and Sarah Ann Gedney who died on May 9, 1856 at 5 Years, 1 Month, and 11 Days also at Eleazor Gedney Burial Ground, Mamaroneck, NY) and beliefs of past eras), both of which arose with a desire to remember the dead, and have changed with the ages as social perceptions and ways of coping have evolved.
For example, the skull and bones that came to depict death for their use on tombstones in 18th century Spanish cemeteries were replaced by cherub heads by the mid 1800s as the concept of death became socially less terrifying and the weeping willow used to portray sorrow and mourning during the 18th century to mid 19th century were supplanted by other plants - especially lilies to shed a more positive light on death while symbolizing the resurrection and afterlife.
Common Victorian-era symbols that have gradually disappeared from use based on changing social tenets and demographics are lamenting and weeping women (since 19th century norms precluded men from showing emotion; consequently memorials utilizing men depicted them in a prominent light), the use of children and cherubs utilized to invoke sadness at the loss of a child, which had been common during those times, and prevalence of urn vessels (since an urn represented the body as a container that held the soul) and sometimes, though to a significantly lesser extent, other images draped with a pall (clothe used to cover a coffin).
Other symbols found in Victorian-era cemeteries are gates (symbol of the gates of Heaven), Celtic crosses (symbol of the four directions on a compass and mind, body, heart, and soul), birds in flight (symbol of the soul borne aloft), mourning doves (symbol of lamentation and even the Holy Spirit), wreathes (symbol of glory), crosses (symbol of the resurrection), and Star of David (symbol of redemption and of the Jewish people).
Angels are still used to "soften the finality of death" and to provide comfort. Some sit at each side of a grave with "heads bowed, as if guarding the bodies of departed souls" to ease the gloom of subterranean tombs.[2]
Generally, today's symbolism no longer views death as an inevitable finality in which our mortality is lamented but rather as a new beginning because of the hope of the afterlife to come. As a result, angels and other allegorical figures often point skyward as a reminder that the deceased lives in Heaven and tombstones often portray biblical figures such as Jesus (the ultimate symbol of resurrection), Mary, Joseph and biblical scenes such as The Last Supper, the Pieta, and Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Other graves are marked by tombstones or ground markers that include sculpted images, etched or embossed photographs, with some high-tech tombstones consisting of even audio (of the deceased speaking) or video (of important moments of a deceased's life) played upon demand.
Mausolea:
Consistent with changing cemetery symbolism, mausolea (which date back to 353 BC when Queen Artemisia II built the world's most splendid tomb as a tribute to her late husband, King Mausolus of Caria) have also evolved through the ages from dark, gloomy, forbidden places that held the remains of prominent families and a few members of the public (when space was available) to multi-story edifices built specifically for the public with bright, ambient décor designed to appeal to the living.
Prior to the advent of new mausolea that began in the early 20th century, famous Greeks and Romans built their own mausolea for centuries until the rise of Christianity, in which only saints were permitted to have monuments (typically churches) built at their graves. However, commencing in the 19th century, wealthy Americans revived the practice and even though such 19th and early 20th century mausolea appeared impressive on the outside, they often consisted of dark, narrow, tiny spaces that in the words of Jack Naudi, New mausoleum keep living in mind (Post-Dispatch, November 6, 2003) were "cold and uninviting to the living."
However, with the new generation of mausolea (with built in skylights, stained-glass windows, plush furniture, and cheery brightness) that consist of family crypts, single crypts, niches, and urn cabinets (the latter two for cremated remains), above ground entombment, which has been popular in Europe for centuries and a necessity for New Orleans cemeteries because of their location below sea level, is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and parts of Asia. Thus these new mausolea are adding to the cemetery experience because of their appealing nature and profit margins because of their efficiency of space.
Conclusion:
With the redefining of the cemetery concept aimed at maximizing their appeal and services to the living, cemeteries are no longer mere repositories for the dead. Instead they are multipurpose facilities that are connected to the communities they serve, bringing people together beyond the constraints of death while promising an unforgettable, comforting experience to all who absorb their striking scenery, view their rich history and architecture, research genealogy and changing social perceptions through tourism, photography, and passive recreation, and of course remember their beloved dead. At the same time, they are providing serene, tasteful resting places for the deceased that even the living can look forward to when our inevitable day arrives.
20 Notable Cemeteries:
1. Arlington National Park - Arlington, VA, USA
2. Bonaventure Cemetery - Savannah, GA, USA
3. Crown Hill Cemetery - Indianapolis, IN, USA
4. Forest Lawn Cemetery - Los Angeles, CA, USA
5. Green-Wood Cemetery - Brooklyn, NY, USA
6. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 - New Orleans, LA, USA
7. Lake View Cemetery - Cleveland, OH, USA
8. Laurel Hill Cemetery - Philadelphia, USA
9. Montparnasse Cemetery - Paris, France
10. Monumental Cemetery - Milan, Italy
11. Mount Auburn Cemetery - Cambridge, MA
12. Mount Hope Cemetery - Rochester, NY
13. Novodevichye Cemetery - Moscow, Russia
14. Oakland Cemetery - Atlanta, GA, USA
15. Old Granary Burying Ground - Boston, MA, USA
16. Père Lachaise Cemetery - Paris, France
17. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery - Los Angeles, CA, USA
18. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 - New Orleans, LA, USA
19. Steglieno Cemetery - Genoa, Italy
20. Woodlawn Cemetery - Bronx, NY, USA
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[1] Paul Lukas. Final Destinations Why Sightseers regard cemetery tours as a worthwhile, ahem, undertaking. CNN Money.com. 1 May 2000. 31 October 2009. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/05/01/278219/index.htm
[2] Ed Snyder. The Afterlife Referenced in Cemetery Symbolism (Part 1). 22 May 2006. 5 November 2009. http://www.stoneangels.net/?p=29
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