This is an active cemetery, meaning that people are laying their loved ones to rest here-it's not just old graves. So when walking through, please be sensitive and respectful of that.
It's absolutely fascinating to me how the burial process works here. I'm used to attending funerals where the person is laid to rest in a casket six feet under the earth. Here, it's different. Because you'll hit water after digging two feet (remember, New Orleans is built on top of a swamp), it's not practical to bury people this way.
Instead, there are these beautiful and eerie above-ground tombs that people are placed in. I learned that the deceased person is put in a pine box, then put onto a shelf inside the tomb. 366 days later (a year and one day), the person's remains (usually just bones and dust by that point), are pushed to the back of the shelf, falling down to the open ground below (still inside the tomb). This is how the family burial tomb works. It's shared amongst multiple people; often many generations. I also learned that it's not uncommon for a family to have a note ("mortgage") on their tomb. Not surprised, since those things are massive, I'm sure they cost a pretty penny.
It was one of the highlights of our trip-visiting the cemetery and learning about how culture, environment and tradition play a role in this process. I'd strongly encourage anyone with a hint of curiosity to take the time to visit. read more