Oct. 17, 2023

In the Shadow of Tombstones: Cemetery Superstitions

For as long as there have been burial grounds, there have been superstitions about what you should or should not do when visiting them. Some of these include:

Avoid Stepping on Graves: Many people believe it is disrespectful and bad luck to step on a grave, as it might disturb the spirits resting there. And speaking of feet, there is also the belief that a corpse should be removed from the place of its death feet first to avoid having the deceased "look back" causing the next living person behind them to follow the dead into death.

Don't Speak Ill of the Dead: Speaking negatively about the deceased in a cemetery (or anywhere) may anger the spirits of the dead causing them to maliciously haunt the living.

Leaving Offerings: Some cultures leave offerings such as flowers, coins, or food on graves as a sign of respect. Taking away these offerings is believed to bring misfortune to the one who removes them.

Counting Graves: Counting the graves in a cemetery is often discouraged. It is said that counting the graves may invite spirits to follow you or bring bad luck.

Whistling: Whistling in a cemetery is considered disrespectful in many cultures. The sound of whistling is thought to disturb the peace of the dead and may attract negative energy or spirits.

October brings us closer to winter. The days are shorter and colder. The leaves are changing from green to a fiery burst of color before falling to the ground. Halloween & Samhain are being celebrated and tales of the paranormal abound. It is only natural to hear more of the superstitions surrounding burial grounds and funerals.

What are some superstitions you grew up being told when visiting a cemetery or caring for the dead?

Photo: Granary Burying Ground - Boston, Massachusetts

Jennie Johnson

Creator & Host

Jennie has been in love with cemeteries and their stories since she was a teenager. She has taken thousands of photographs of historic headstones and the nature that inhabits cemeteries and graveyards. While she is not a history major, she is a history buff and loves to do research on all kinds of historical people and events. She was once locked into a museum (at the curator's request. He had an urgent coffee matter to attend to) and it was a dream come true! Jennie's dad is a retired Navy Senior Chief which means she spent her childhood living in different parts of the United States and ultimately developed a love of travel. She has also been involved in theater since she was 12 years old. She enjoys being on stage, but in recent years has developed a passion for directing and script writing. She has three awesome kids who are all grown or nearly so and is married to a Radio DJ/music programer who also loves playing pinball. She adores her black cat named Salem after her favorite city in the whole world, Salem, Massachusetts.

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