Gravediggers' cemetery party hits raw nerve

msnbc ^ | 6/30/05 | msnbc

[minus_273]

BRUSSELS - The mourning parents of a traffic accident victim who visited their son’s grave near Antwerp were shocked to find the local gravediggers enjoying their annual barbecue at the graveyard.

Workers at the cemetery in Merksem had music playing and their children were running around near the graves, De Morgen newspaper said Wednesday.

The parents called the police. Antwerp city hall said it had never granted permission for the Friday night party.

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weird..

[Paleo Conservative]

The mourning parents of a traffic accident victim who visited their son's grave near Antwerp were shocked to find the local gravediggers enjoying their annual barbecue at the graveyard.

What were they barbecueing? Was this deep pit barbecue?

[cripplecreek]

I grew up next to a cemetery so it never held any real mystery to me. It was a playground in my eyes.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

On Memorial Day many years ago, the cemetery visit was a day-long event in my little home town. The high school band would play and people brought box lunches and met relatives.

[theDentist]

What were they barbecueing? Was this deep pit barbecue?

Yeah, 6-foot deep. Not sure who was the center of attention, though.

[Springman]

Strange. Don't know if it's a just damn however?

[70times7]

Weird, yes… But these days as long as no one had a chain saw and a leather mask at the BBQ, the diggers should rent a pavilion at the park from now on, the apology should be accepted, and they should all just forget about it.

[rahbert]

were they drinking Belgian wine?

[ditto h]

Stay away from the fire or you'll start coffin.

[Onager]

It's not the cough that carries you off - its the coffin they carry you off in!

[Feiny]

Were they driving this around?

[mware]

On Memorial Day many years ago, the cemetery visit was a day-long event in my little home town.

Still does in my little town.

[ravingnutter]

I grew up next to a cemetery so it never held any real mystery to me. It was a playground in my eyes.

Same here...I had an Uncle who owned a cemetary and his brother owned the mortuary, LOL! Hide and seek, anyone?

The Uncle that owned the mortuary had a huge old house that had secret passageways in the walls. It also had a long curved stairway from the first to the second floor, we used to love to slide down the bannister. It was so much fun!

[Feiny]

They were serving ZOMBIE CAKE!!!

[TXBubba]

If it was anyone other than gravediggers I would think it was weird. But since my hubby used to be one and we love cemeteries this doesn't bother me. Afterall, without them no one would be underground.

Grave Digger Motto: It Could Be Worse...It Could Rain.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My mom tells the story every year about her grandmother from Sweden who would bring a lunch (for four or five people) in the 1930s and 40s and also bring plants and shrubs to put on the graves.
It was a kinder, gentler time.

[TXBubba]

I should clarify that I would not think it strange for Memorial Day or for a family to do it. I would think it strange if some other unrelated group/business held a party in the cemetery. I think the Day of the Dead holiday in Mexico is held with parties in the cemeteries.

[JRjr]

My folks (Norwegians) always went to the cemetary on Memorial Day. We took rakes and other gardening tools, and always transplanted flowering plants on the graves of departed family members. Still a fond memory.