Decoration Day appears to be a tradition found mainly in the Southeastern United States. Usually, the day before the Decoration Day, members of the family gather to clean the grave site by pulling up weeds, treating ant beds, removing old flower arrangements, leaves and other natural debris, and so on, particularly in cemeteries that are not "perpetual care".
Some cemeteries have graves that are now flattened for mowing and have perpetual care, but in others, all weeds are removed from the grave and sand, dirt, or gravel is heaped to cover the grave. Some of the smaller cemeteries have no maintenance except that done by churches, family members, nearby home owners, or community volunteers (such as Scouts and individuals).
[It is my personal belief that these traditions evolved when people were buried in a blanket or pine box and over time, the grave would sink so additional dirt, sand, or rock was mounded up to compensate as well as to help mark the grave.]
[w4ctk@farmerstel.com]
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