The “Cities of the Dead” or otherwise known as, New Orleans Cemeteries. The cemeteries became nicknamed “The cities of the dead” because they resemble small villages of the dead. It is said that this keeps the dead alive. The cemeteries have mausoleums and tombs, but no actual graves. Part of what New Orleans is known for is respecting the dead. Due to this, some people assume that is why the dead are not buried there, but it is actually because you physically cannot bury the dead due to how wet and swampy the land is; the dead bodies and coffins will rise sooner or later. The people of New Orleans tried many different times using stones in and on the coffins or by boring holes in the coffins, but the water just makes them rise. Eventually they realized it was pointless to continue to try and bury the dead when they will simply rise every time. They adapted the Spanish custom of vaults to lay their dead to rest.
Each family lineage gets their own vault and each family member shares that vault. How big and nice it is depends on how wealthy the family is. How it works is as long as it’s been two years since the time of death, their remains can be moved and the coffin can be destroyed for the newly dead family member. Their remains will be moved to a burial bag and placed at the back/side of the vault. But, if it has not been two years since the recently deceased has passed and someone else has passed, local cemeteries generally have a temporary hold vault and after the two years are up for the first dead person they will be moved to the burial bag and the recently deceased will be moved to the family vault.
The importance of New Orleans having these cemeteries are so families can still mourn the dead. There is still a place to go and talk to those who have passed. Since they are family tombs, families can even be buried together and to some that is important. New Orleans may not be able to bury their dead but they still put them to rest and honor them. They still take care of their dead. It is important for people to mourn those who have passed and New Orleans cemeteries are a beautiful place to remember and mourn. People leave notes and coins at the tombs. They can still visit their loved ones. Cremation is a fairly new addition to the Catholic church, so having somewhere to physically visit is really important.
The culture of these cemeteries starts off with them having Spanish customs. The cemeteries aren’t only family tombs though. The Cypress Grove Cemetery is dedicated to volunteer firemen. The Charity Hospital is for the thousands that died during the yellow fever epidemics and in 2007 it became the Charity Hospital and Katrina Memorial Cemetery, to remember more than 1,800 individuals who were unclaimed and unidentified after the storm. Some of the cemeteries even have things left at them from coins to handwritten notes, for loved ones or for strangers. Honoring the deceased is a big part of New Orleans culture and the people use these tombs to their advantage to honor them even more.
These cemeteries bring in tourists from all over the world to visit New Orleans. The cemeteries attract many different people. People find them beautiful and fascinating. There’s cemetery tours and some of the tours even incorporate voodoo. New Orleans most famous voodoo priestess Marie Laveau has her tomb for people to come see. In other parts of America, a cemetery is just a cemetery, but in New Orleans it is a part of a bigger culture and honor.
Also, on the brightside to not being able to bury people, you can’t bury people! So hypothetically speaking, you get murdered and the killer tries to bury you, you will pop back up and everyone will know you were murdered because your body will not stay buried!
I was asked about cemetery prices by Eiizjarae and I am still researching but so far I have found that the average cemetery price in New Orleans is $9,671. For St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 by the Serenity Garden Columbarium prices start at $1,900. I think it depends which cemetery and where exactly you want the vault in the cemetery! Some of the memorial cemeteries have discounts too.