Three cemetery superstitions people still follow
Folk traditions advise against taking items from graves, wearing brand-new shoes or making noise; many elders still observe these rules.
Visits to cemeteries are surrounded by a web of customs and folk beliefs handed down through generations. Beyond religious rites and common courtesy, many communities keep traditional prohibitions that older people, in particular, still observe.
Three widely repeated rules
1. Never bring home flowers or objects taken from graves. A common saying holds that anything left at a grave — flowers, candles or decorations — belongs symbolically to the deceased, and removing those items is both disrespectful and a way of bringing sorrow into the household. While there is no scientific basis for such claims, taking objects from someone else’s grave is widely seen as offensive to the bereaved family.
2. Avoid wearing brand-new shoes to a cemetery. In some traditions, going to a burial ground in shoes being worn for the first time is considered an ill omen and, in folk narratives, can foreshadow misfortune for the family. This belief reflects older symbolic meanings attached to clothing and footwear in life-cycle events, though it is not backed by evidence.
3. Keep quiet — do not shout, play loud music or disturb the peace. Respectful silence is the most practical of the prohibitions: loud talking, laughing or music is thought to violate the repose of the dead and, according to folklore, might bring bad luck to those who behave that way. Regardless of superstition, quiet allows relatives to mourn or remember in dignity.
These customs form part of a broader cultural heritage. Some people follow them from conviction, others regard them as folklore, and many draw a line between religious observance and superstitious prohibitions. Above all, cemetery visits remain acts of remembrance and respect toward those who have died.
Photo: press material from the event
