![]() ![]() Human burial grounds had also become crowded with parts from farm animals as well. Peter’s cemetery, had become overcrowded. According to Peter Dedek, author of The Cemeteries of New Orleans: A Cultural History, one of the first cemeteries of the city, St. Struggles with the high-water table were an ongoing battle. There are accounts during the early years that people were buried along with the natural levee system of the river. At the beginning of New Orleans as a colony, burying the dead was a problem. Originally, the elaborate graves we see today were not originally there. Originally, the burial practices of the Spanish and French influenced the burying of bodies, reflecting the shifting colonial influences at the time, but the Catholic church still retained strict control over burial practices. The New World colony followed the traditions of the Old World for a long time. While flooding continued, the new graves and tombs continued to be built above ground. These tombs were often built of brick, which traces their origin to Roman burials and Spanish design. In the 1820s, oven tombs (known as fours in French) and family tombs were the norms. It wasn’t until the 19th century that we see above-grounds become more commonplace in New Orleans. These influences, used in European cemeteries, eventually found their way to the New World, including in New Orleans. It is possible during that time, especially when France briefly repossessed the colony, that Napoleon strongly encouraged neoclassical design in many aspects of architecture, including tombs. The colony of New Orleans had French roots from 1718-1763, Spanish roots from 1763-1803, and was briefly reclaimed by the French and Napoleon before being sold to the United States with the Louisiana Purchase. Louis #1 cemetery (1789) and is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans. With the growth of New Orleans continuing, the first planned cemetery was the St. ![]() ![]() The New World colony of New Orleans followed the traditions of the Old World for a long time. Even now, cemeteries can still be targets for vandalism and there is expected etiquette to follow when visiting one.īut how did these iconic cemeteries come to exist in the first place? The idea of writing XXX’s on tombs became connected with legends of Marie Laveau, famed 18th Voodoo priestess, and was perpetuated by New Orleans tour guides. Also, because Voodoo has such a strong presence in New Orleans, in both history and legend, the cemeteries were often associated with Voodoo. Famed author Anne Rice was allegedly inspired by the Lafayette #1 cemetery when conceiving Lestat’s tomb and writing the 1995 novel Memnoch the Devil. The unique above-ground tombs have been the backdrops of famous movies like Easy Rider and CSI: New Orleans. So it’s not just the high-water table but cultural traditions that played a role in above ground burial. You can find touches of French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Creole culture from buildings to food to the way the dead are buried. The unique challenges posed by geography and multi-cultural influences over the centuries helped shape New Orleans into a unique melting pot. The dangers of trying to bury someone in an area with a high-water table could lead to flooding of the graves or the coffin even being displaced. Being surrounded by all these bodies of water lead the city to have a high-water table. When the French originally settled in New Orleans in the early 18th century, the city was surrounded by bodies of water including the Mississippi River, Lake Borgne, and Lake Pontchartrain. The geography of New Orleans is a driving factor in why above-ground tombs exist in the iconic city. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |