Origins of the "6 Feet Under" Belief
The phrase “6ft under” refers to being buried in a grave that is six feet deep. This phrase originated from traditional burial practices where the standard depth of a grave was often six feet. There are several reasons why people buried their loved ones six feet under. Firstly, it was believed that burying a body six feet deep would prevent disturbance.
Why Bodies Are Buried 6 Feet Deep
It is based on the idea that the standard depth of a grave is 6 feet. There is no rule that graves must be 6 feet deep. The Lord Mayor of London ordered plague victims be buried 6-foot deep to prevent spreading. Similarly, farmers wouldn’t accidentally plow up bodies at that depth. Most Christians bury facing east to meet Christ on his return.
Traditional Burial Practices
An ancient practice of burying bodies six feet underground helped mask decay odor from predators. Similarly, random disturbances couldn’t reach that depth. Preventing disease spread was another major reason for the six feet under tradition.