Cemeteries are tinged with sadness and are often seen as a quiet place to mourn a lost loved one, and nothing else. But just over a century ago, cemeteries were littered with the living, and were hot spots to enjoy a day of picnicking and socializing.
According to Atlas Obscura, during the late 19th century in America, cities and towns lacked proper recreational space, which pushed citizens into the cemeteries. Eating, visiting, and playing, all took place on family lots and cemeteries were treated as public parks rather than boneyards.
Some say hanging out in graveyards became trendy simply because it was an open space to enjoy fresh air, friends, and family.
Others believe the deadly diseases prominent at the time (AKA, chances were, someone you loved died from illness — and often) made visiting the many deceased loved ones a common activity among families. It was in graveyards you could talk to those you lost as if they were still there.
Cemeteries across the country had also stepped away from the church. Rural graveyards and tombstones spoke less of sin and more of remembrance. They were designed to be happier places complete with winding trails and gorgeous garden plots. Graveyards were places where visitors wanted to go.
By the 1920s, cemetery picnics began to fade out. Death was less of a presence thanks to medical achievements and public parks became more common across the country. In fact, many cemeteries have now outlawed picnicking due to littering.
However, other countries like Guatemala and Greece still practice cemetery picnics, and including deceased ancestors in annual traditions is part of many Asian cultures.
Sure, some may think cemetery picnics are a bit morbid. But who says the dead don’t like to socialize every once in a while?
