What's The Difference Between 'Cemetery' And 'Graveyard'?

[Foggy]

In Ohio, we have 4-H in all of our 88 counties.
The 4-H'er's do "projects" that the 4-H'er's get graded on.
If the judges feel that the 4-H'er has done an excellent job,
they can be honored and chosen to go to the OHIO STATE FAIR.

The "project" was GENEALOGY!

One of the questions ask for Ohio State judging was

What's The Difference Between 'Cemetery' And 'Graveyard'?

Unfortunately, the 4-H'er didn't know.
Soooooooooooo, who on here would know?

I think one person on here would know and that would be TORGO.

I had an idea, I was in the " right ballpark" (as they say) but wasn't exactly right .... but I do know now.
You are never to old to learn.

[JamesG]

I’d always thought graveyard meant “small cemetery”. Some churches have adjacent graveyards that hold roughly between 50-100 graves max or a couple of graves for “important figures”.

Cemeteries hold 1000s of graves as well as crypts, mausoleums, vaults…

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by JamesG

I’d always thought graveyard meant “small cemetery”. Some churches have adjacent graveyards that hold roughly between 50-100 graves max or a couple of graves for “important figures”.

Cemeteries hold 1000s of graves as well as crypts, mausoleums, vaults…

Thst makes sense. I was also thinking cemetery is the official word and grave yard less formal. And it seems in the old days people called them grave yards a lot depending on the size, my Grandparents did.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Thst makes sense. I was also thinking cemetery is the official word and grave yard less formal. And it seems in the old days people called them grave yards a lot depending on the size, my Grandparents did.

I meant regardless of the size!

[AMackII]

To Me Both are quite the same

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by AMackII

To Me Both are quite the same

That's what I always thought. Like the difference between Supper and Dinner . Basically the same . But what James posted , a cemetery is bigger than a grave yard, like dinner is usually a bigger , fancier meal than supper .

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by JamesG

I’d always thought graveyard meant “small cemetery”. Some churches have adjacent graveyards that hold roughly between 50-100 graves max or a couple of graves for “important figures”.

Cemeteries hold 1000s of graves as well as crypts, mausoleums, vaults…

This is similar to my thoughts, along as the 4-H'er, but according to the judges (5 of them, and they all agreed) that is not correct.

CEMETERIES are "public burial grounds" where anyone can be buried.
GRAVEYARDS are "private burial grounds" where only those who have been "giving permission" can be buried there.

Also, this is something else I didn't know was this:
How You Can Be Buried on Your Own Property in All 50 States(that allow it)
This site tells the laws in every State
https://www.romemonuments.com/home-burials

Can you image a Realtor trying to sell a property and having to disclose that a grave (graveyard) is on the property!!
I wonder if it would devalue the price of the property or not?

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by Foggy

This is similar to my thoughts, along as the 4-H'er, but according to the judges (5 of them, and they all agreed) that is not correct.

CEMETERIES are "public burial grounds" where anyone can be buried.
GRAVEYARDS are "private burial grounds" where only those who have been "giving permission" can be buried there.

There are also cemeteries that require a certain criteria in order to be buried there. An example is Arlington National Cemetery which is for those who served in the Armed Forces and their immediate family.

[Gibson Girl]

Yep, a graveyard is private and it's because it's located on the church's land.

This is where I got my info.

https://myend.com/differences-betwee...for%20burials.

[Janice Johnson]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

That's what I always thought. Like the difference between Supper and Dinner . Basically the same . But what James posted , a cemetery is bigger than a grave yard, like dinner is usually a bigger , fancier meal than supper .

I'm pretty sure Supper is a light meal before dinner, like 6 PM, you might eat a bowl of soup and have a bread to dip the soup in, abd drink orange juice, but dinner is the REAL meal at like 9 where you have chicken, rice, and tomato sauce and drink a glass of wine.

[Dude111]

Maybe the difference is Cemetarys might not have headstones?? (Where Graveyards obviously do)

[Fleet]

Both are interesting. Especially if they are haunted.

[Coffeecup]

Originally Posted by Foggy

This is similar to my thoughts, along as the 4-H'er, but according to the judges (5 of them, and they all agreed) that is not correct.

CEMETERIES are "public burial grounds" where anyone can be buried.
GRAVEYARDS are "private burial grounds" where only those who have been "giving permission" can be buried there.

Can you image a Realtor trying to sell a property and having to disclose that a grave (graveyard) is on the property!!
I wonder if it would devalue the price of the property or not?

Gee a quirky thought about buying a house and maybe the sellers parents are in grave in the yard. Old tv western programs have family members buried behind the house.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Fleet

Both are interesting. Especially if they are haunted.

You are not right in LA , but in the area . Have you ever been to Hollywood Forever Cemetary on Santa Monica blvd.? Really cool place . Lots of old and more recent celebrities buried there. And it is really more like a really nice park than a cemetery. You can hang out , sunbathe , even bring a little picnic ! They encourage it. And there is a lake, ducks, geese, swans . And peacocks , even cats!

And they show movies , have concerts in the summer on weekend nights even. I never been to a movie or concert there but my Sons have. But I been there in the day , really cool, fun , beautiful cemetery!

[biffbronson]

I was thinking I'd say graveyard is more of an old-fashioned term, but on the other hand the word cemetery is very old as well. So I defer to the explanations of Gibson Girl and others in this thread.