In most countries, the depth of the burial place of the deceased seems to be regulated not by religious considerations, but by purely practical and hygienic ones.
In English, there is an expression that translates as «6 feet deep.» When people say it, they mean death or burial. However, few people have thought about why the dead are buried 2 meters deep.
The tradition dates back to 1655, when the plague ravaged all of England. During those terrible years, people feared the spread of infection, and the mayor of London issued a special order regulating the treatment of the bodies of the dead to avoid the spread of infection. It was decided at the time that graves should be dug 6 feet deep.
Many doubted whether this was the right decision, since the infection was mainly transmitted by insects, not by the bodies of the dead. Nevertheless, the standard is still in effect today.
In the United States, for example, the depth standard varies from state to state. In many cases it is 79 inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm * 78 = 200.66 cm).
It turns out that some state authorities consider two meters as sufficient depth. However, there are also cases in which the dead are buried at a depth of 4 meters: this is done to make space on the surface for the rest of the dead.
This procedure is usually used for relatives and close friends.
A depth of 2 meters is now considered the most common standard. Exceeding this depth can cause problems in New Orleans, for example, where there are many underground watercourses. In addition, there have been cases of coffins buried too deep being pushed out of the ground.
In the UK, for example, a standard adopted centuries ago is followed. Of course, the reason is quite different. Specialized services appeal to people to take precautions: coffins should be buried at a depth that will prevent animals from digging up the grave and exposing the body or coffin.
