Why do headstones face east and west

Some reasons are also practical. Here are four probable reasons as to why some people chose to bury their dead facing west or another direction. Just as beliefs and religion may dictate that a grave should face east, religion can also determine that a grave should face the opposite direction. Some Jewish people prefer to be buried in a position where they are facing the west. Depending on the geographic location of the burial, many Jewish people bury their deceased facing west because they want to face the land of Israel.

Many believe that by facing west, they will be positioned to return to their homeland when resurrection finally arrives. A similar burial pattern is present among Muslims. Many Muslims are buried in a west-facing position so they are facing or perpendicular to Mecca. Some old tombstones and grave markers are placed in a position where the front is facing west. Even if the tombstone faces west, the deceased might be placed facing east.

There are claims that certain ministers such as priests, cardinals, and bishops are buried in a west-facing position. This is due to the belief that they will continue to look after their flocks even in the afterlife and guide them when the second coming arrives.

This is the most practical reason of all. One of the most significant reasons why some graves face west instead of the east is because of the availability of land and plots. Not all cemeteries have large burial areas and it becomes necessary to compromise at some point.

Other cemeteries choose to position graves facing west to begin with in order to maximize space. Another reason for west-facing graves is to provide maintenance workers the best availability to maneuver and work throughout the graveyard. Some cemeteries choose to alternate the way they bury so that one grave faces east and the next faces west.

In this manner, those who visit have more space and privacy when paying respects to the deceased. To a certain extent, it doesn't matter how one is buried or which direction one is facing when laid to rest. Ultimately, what matters most is the life that has been lived, and carrying out the personal wishes of the deceased regarding their final resting place.

Icons sourced from FlatIcon. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Although some have remained, not original methods are still followed. This is a guide to understanding which way a headstone should face. You might have heard that you should face a headstone to the east. This influence came from early religions who worshiped the sun. Many Egyptian temples were built so that the dead faced east.

Christians believed that if the deceased were buried to face east, they could rise again on the day of resurrection. Many Fijians and islanders cultures saw west as the land of the dead. Although they had different reasons, most early cultures and religions endorsed an eastward facing gravestone which is why it is still done today. Despite that some early procedures remained, there is a more diverse range of personal beliefs in society today.

Not everyone has to follow a religious based method. There is no requirement in church law regarding the position of burial. The only thing that comes close is a reference in the Roman Ritual of no longer in effect that stated that at the funeral Mass the coffin was to be placed so that the feet of the deceased should point toward the main altar.

Presuming the church had been constructed so that a priest celebrating Mass would face the east, the deceased at the funeral would face in that same direction. Although there was no canonical requirement, it was in fact customary for people to be buried facing the east, reflecting the traditional Christian belief that, at the end time, Jesus would return from the east.

An even earlier pagan tradition had the deceased buried facing the east because it was where the sun rose. There is no fixed rule nowadays and I know of some very traditional Catholic Benedictine cemeteries where the brethren are buried facing the south due to limited burial space. Some people believe that God moves east to west. At the second coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation He will come in from the East moving to the west.

The idea was too bury the bodies facing east so that when the rapture happens they will already be facing toward His coming. This is more tradition than it is biblical but they did it for that reason. On the other hand as a Jew you always approached God as at the tabernacle moving east to west. This was important as the pagans always worshiped facing east so in a way you should bury them facing west as not to face the pagan rising sun.

How a Jew in the Old Testament or a Christian in the church age and how they are buried is not important.. Sign up to join this community.

The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Why are people traditionally buried facing east? Ask Question. Asked 9 years, 10 months ago. Active 2 years, 9 months ago. Viewed k times. During a burial today, I noticed the coffin was buried facing east.

Where does this Christian tradition come from?