On social media, many viewers stunned after a viral revealed the difference between graveyard and cemetery.
On TikTok, a viral video comparing the terms ‘graveyard’ and ‘cemetery’ gained attention.
The difference between graveyard and cemetery.
On Tiktok platform, a user who goes by @ shared a video on this platform, explaining between graveyard and cemetery.
In the footage, they explained Graveyard Vs. Cemetery.
Graveyard: A burial ground situated next to a church.
Cemetery: A large burial grpund not attached to a church.
Social media reaction
In the comment selection, many viewers express their shocked after realizing the difference between graveyard and cemetery.
One person said: both have ghosts and flying vampires.
@professorwhiz Graveyard Vs. Cemetery #graveyard #cemetery #difference #facts
A second wrote:Excited about this, I may now know something my husband didn’t. time to rub it in.
While a third commented:We have cemetery with a little church in it. It’s still a cemetery because it doesn’t employee a priest/etc, you bring your own.
Another added: All graveyard are cemeteries not all cemeteries are graveyards. Other way around babe, for both BC and Ontario.
The difference between a graveyard and a cemetery is often misunderstood.
Both terms relate to burial sites, but their meanings can vary.
Today, we will clarify the distinctions and similarities between graveyards and cemeteries.
Many believe that graveyards are attached to churches.
Conversely, cemeteries can be found anywhere.
However, a recent Snopes investigation reveals this distinction is not entirely accurate.
Both terms are synonyms according to the Cambridge Dictionary.
This means they can be used interchangeably.
What is a cemetery?
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A cemetery is a designated place for burial.
It is a relatively newer concept than a graveyard.
By the early 19th century, church graveyards became overcrowded.
This led to the establishment of independent burial grounds called cemeteries.
Cemeteries are typically not affiliated with any specific church.
Anyone can be buried there, regardless of religious affiliation.
They are often located outside town or city centers for more space.
The word “cemetery” comes from the Greek term “koimeterion.”
This term means “dormitory” or “resting place.”
Early Christians adopted this word to refer to a final resting place.
What is a Graveyard?
A graveyard primarily refers to the burial area of a churchyard.
While the terms can be used interchangeably, this distinction still exists.
Graveyards evoke images of old churchyards, especially in the English countryside.
They tend to have older, more disorderly tombstones.
Graveyards are usually smaller and less manicured than cemeteries.
The difference between graveyard and cemetery.
In summary, using graveyard and cemetery interchangeably is acceptable today.
However, linguistic precision matters.
Use “graveyard” when referring to burial sites on church grounds.
Use “cemetery” for modern, independent burial sites.
Some cemeteries may have religious affiliations, but they are not tied to a specific place of worship.
Experts agree that there is little difference between graveyards and cemeteries.
Professor David Sloane, an authority on the subject, states, “There is little or no difference between a graveyard and a cemetery.”
Both can be located next to churches, although those are typically called churchyards.
Historically, the term graveyard is more general.
Cemetery specifically refers to burial sites not directly controlled by the church.
Originally, “cemetery” was a synonym for churchyard, but it evolved.
This change occurred when churchyards became overcrowded.
So, is there a significant difference between a graveyard and a cemetery?