do people put pennies, dimes and nickels on some of the head stones? I found it odd...?
2006-12-09 07:09:49 · 10 answers · asked by tamara.knsley@sbcglobal.net 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
This is only an opinion, but here it goes:
There is a Jewish custom by which visitors lay pebbles or rocks
on headstones when they visit cemeteries. There are many speculations for the reasons (too many to expound on here), but ultimately it is done as a reminder that the living are attending to the deceased, that those who have passed have not been forgotten and that their graves are attended, visited, and cared for, and the pebbles or rocks are the evidence of that.
Maybe the custom has now spilled over and rocks and pebbles have taken on the form of coins, but still for the purpose of paying respects. Flowers aren't always readily available--- especially on a spur-of-the-moment visit, but most everyone has a coin in their pocket that they can leave behind.
Or maybe it's just my imagination that spills over... ;)
2006-12-09 07:35:48 · answer #1 · answered by starlight 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It could be a hold-over from ancient Greek and Roman practice. It was traditional to put coins on the person's eyes or mouth in order to pay Charon, the boatman, to carry the soul safely across the River Styx into Hades.
2006-12-09 07:21:01 · answer #2 · answered by JelliclePat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only place I've ever seen that is Benjamin Franklin's grave in Philadelphia, PA. Supposedly, it's because of his saying "a penny saved is a penny earned" still not sure why people do it htough.
2006-12-09 07:12:51 · answer #3 · answered by musicgirl31♫ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do that not because of the value of the coin so much as just leaving a sign that they came to visit. Its just a tradition. I find a stone and place it on the marker when I visit. It just feels good.
2006-12-09 08:23:41 · answer #4 · answered by Rhino-Jo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I visit previous cemeteries typically and prefer to study the former stones, yet I really have by no skill had your adventure. I favor I had. It appears like you may be mushy to the emotions of the lifeless. yet maximum anybody isn't. we can study by written historic past even with the truth that. there's a announcing, "those who do no longer study from historic past are doomed to repeat it." also, i imagine the Hindu faith of the east prays to their ancestors.
2016-11-25 01:12:13 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To pay Charon, the ferryman of the river styx, to take them across into the afterlife
2006-12-09 07:22:26 · answer #6 · answered by Ghost Wolf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in ancient greece they used to put pennies on the eyes of the dead to pay the ferry man in the after life it may be something to do with this?
2006-12-09 07:19:20 · answer #7 · answered by y2ktachyon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as a remembrance for the departed one who will return and use the spirit of the money to receive the things needed in the Afterlife
2006-12-09 07:31:11 · answer #8 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only coin reference i could think of is how they used to leave leave two coins so they could pay the boatman to cross the river styx
2006-12-09 07:20:33 · answer #9 · answered by lethander_99 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean ON the headstones? Are they placed
there loosely, sealed in a plastic compartment, or what?
2006-12-09 07:14:47 · answer #10 · answered by comedycatalyst 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋