Monthly Archives: April 2018

What Happens When a Cemetery Gets Full ?

In most cemeteries that are still in use, when they are ‘full’ they will simply be closed to new burials, maintained, and a new cemetery will be opened (usually outside of town/city limits due to space constraints as a result of development).  Occassionally there will still be burials in the closed cemeteries, for families that have reserved plots, etc.  It is becoming more common for cemeteries to be combined for numerous parishes or municipalities, simply because of space and cost.

However, in history, many cemeteries were used continuously, either being expanded throughout time (where space allowed) or by exhuming individuals to create space for new burials.  This was quite popular pre-Reformation and led to the creation of charnel deposits and ossuaries (of which many were destroyed during the Reformation).  Exhumed individuals could be placed in charnel deposits, ossuaries, re-buried alongside a new burial, etc… often they were already skeletonised, other times flesh was removed to make them easier to handle.


Why is Earth Day on April 22 ?

  • In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, inspired by what he had seen following a California oil spill, planned a grassroots demonstration aimed at protecting the environment.
  • In the mode of student demonstrations, Nelson decided to hold a “teach-in” on the environment. Pete McCloskey, a Republican Congressman, was drafted as co-chair and Harvard professor Denis Hayes was tapped as national coordinator. Hayes picked April 22 for the first Earth Day since it fell between Spring Break and final exams and students were available to participate.
  • The idea spread quickly. By the time April 22, 1970 came, more than 20 million Americans took part in Earth Day events, eventually leading to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.


Beautiful Earth Day


Why is Earth Day on April 22


Happy Earth Day