What is a cemetery in Romania famous for its brightly colored tombstones called?

The Merry Cemetery is a cemetery in the village of Săpânța, Maramureş county, Romania. It is famous for its brightly colored tombstones with naïve paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the people who are buried there in addition to scenes from their lives. The Merry Cemetery became an open-air museum and a national tourist attraction.

The unusual feature of this cemetery is that it diverges from the prevalent belief, culturally shared within European societies – a belief that views death as something indelibly solemn. Connections with the local Dacian culture have been made, a culture whose philosophical tenets presumably vouched for the immortality of the soul and the belief that death was a moment filled with joy and anticipation for a better life.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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17 Comments

Robin Heckler

Lilly, this is a great question. The answer options are are good and the picture is interesting without giving the answer away.I enjoyed learning about this piece of trivia that I had never heard of before. Very well done.

Irene Townsend

That was a great question. I believe Death is not the end it is an graduation, but my life right now is full of joy and celebration as each day gets better and when I leave this earth then that joy and celebration will continue with my Lord and Saviour.

Ben

I also believe that death is solemn and joyful going to the next life. No more worries, or problem like here in this lifetime. I like the way they paint their cemetery with bright and colorful surroundings in Romania.

M.C.F

Never heard of it great question even through I picked incorrect but learned something

Cheryl Maxwell

I happen to agree with that Dacian belief!

stevenbtabak

I Know it Wasn’t Pet cemetery That’s a Book by Stephen King

Char

Robin Heckler, I so agree

Doris Dallaire

Good question and answer. I learned something

lls

Such interesting art! I recall seeing some of these on the Travel Channel. Years before, on a National Geographic Special, they highlighted the lives of suburban Russians...one had been a truck driver, who had passed due to an illness. They mounted his steering wheel into his headstone as a mark of respect and to call out what his profession had been.

Chris Braid

A great question, alternative options and explanation Lilly. Thank you.

earlepg

Another good question and answer set by Lilly. I only chose Merry because it is so different from what I think of in reference to a cemetery.

Anita Clark Morton

Great question Lilly. I'd seen pictures of this place before, but had no idea of what it was called.

buhlemann

I went there in 1973 and again in 2018, by which time it was a self-conscious tourist attraction rather than a village cemetery. It is still worth a visit. For one thing, if the persons buried there were virtuous in life, they were celebrated, and pictured on painted wood carving doing what they were known for. If not their foibles were depicted in the same way.