The Democratic advocate., 1881-03-05
Our Olio.
Graveyard Superstitions.

Graveyard Superstitions.
1t is seldom that one hears nowadays Of
the observance of the quaint funeral Gus
toms which formerly existed in many an
English country village, the old world no.
tions which gave rise to them having died
out, owing perhaps to the introduction of
| railways and school boards Thus in the
north of England it was customary: only
few years ago, to carry "the dead with the
sun to the grave--a practice correspond
ing with the Highland usage of making
''the deazil, or walking three times round
person according TO the course of the
sun. On one occasion in the village of
Stranton, near West Hartlepool, the vicar
was standing at the churchyard gate,
awaiting the arrival of the funeral process
sion, when, much to his surprise, the en-
tire group, who had come within few
yards of him, suddenly turned back AMI
marched round the church-yard wall, thus
| traversiu. its west, north and east bounda-
ries, On inquiring the reason of this ex-
traordinary procedure, one of the mourn
ers quickly replied, why, ye wad no hae
them carry the dead again the sun the
dead maun ay 90 wi the sun This Is
not unlike a Welsh custom mentioned By
| Peunant, who tells that when corpse was
conveyed to the church-yard from any part
of the town great care was always taken
( that il should be carried the whole dis
tance on the right hand side of the road.
/ From time immemorial there has been
strong feeling of repugnauce among the
inhabitants Of rural parishes to burial
without the sanctuary This does not
mean in unconsecrated ground, but on the
north side of the church, or in remote
corner of the church yard. The origin Of
this prejudice is said to have been the no.
tion that the northern part was that which
was appropriated to the inierment OF un-
baptized infants, excommunicated persons,
or such as had laid violent hands upon
themselves Hence it was popularity
known rs the wrong side Of the church.
In many parishes, therefore, this spot re-
mained uuoccupied, while the remaining
portion Of the church yard was crowded.
White. 10 his History of Selborne, al
ludiag to this superstition, says that, as
most people wished to be buried on the
south side Of the church yard it became
such mass Of mortality that no person
could be inferred without disturbing or
displaeiug the bones Of his ancestors.
Grea, attention has generally been paid,
also, TO the position Of the grave, the pop
ular one being from cast TO west, while
that from north to south has been eOnsid-
cred not Ooly dishouorable but unlucky.
4 curious surviving custom at Welsh
funerals is termed the parsons penny.
After reading the burial service in the
church, the clergyman stands behind a
table while psalm is being sung ln the
meantime each Of the mourners places
piece Of moucy 90 the table for bis ae-
esptauee. This ceremony is regarded as
token Of respee, to the deceased, al
though it was 90 doub, originally intended
to con pensate the Clergyman for masses
for the soul Of the departed. In some
" .lsh parishes also similar custom, call
ed ''spade-money, Is kept up. After the
corpse has been committed to It's resting
place, the grave. digger presents his spade
as > rec ptaele for donations, these otfer-
ings. which often amount 10 u goodly sun,
being regarded as his perquisiies. 10
Yorkshire, az the funerals Of the rich 10
former days, it was customary to hand
burnt wine 10 the company 10 silver
fagon, out Of which every one drank.
This beverage seems to have been heated
preparation Of port wine with sugar aud
spice, aud should any remain, it was sent
round in the hagon to the houses Of
friends for distribution This Of course,
was species of funeral feast, called in
the north Of England au 'aryaI "a lin
gering survival of the offerings that orig
inally were made to the ghost Of deceased.
Among the supcrstitions that still cling
to the chureh.yard may be mentioned one
that has existed from the most remote
period, and which has invested it with an
atmosphere of dread, it having been gen
orally supposed that they are haunted by
speetres aud apparitions, Indeed, it has
been truly pointed out by Mr.. TylOr that,
through all the changes of religious
thought, from first to last, in the course of
human history, the lowering ghosts of the
dead make the midnight burial ground a
place where mems flesh creeps with terror