Wander
a cemetery during the winter and you may come across an arrangement of greenery
decorated with pine cones and ribbons lying upon a grave. This is called a grave
blanket or a cemetery blanket.
The
tradition of placing grave blankets upon graves began in the upper Midwest, brought
here by the Scandinavians. During November or December, Midwestern settlers
would go out into the woods and gather pine branches to place over a loved
one’s grave. 
Today
grave blankets are sold mainly around the holidays at florists and various retail
stores. The “blankets” come in a variety of sizes and shapes; some are adorned
with silk flowers or baby’s breathe scattered among the boughs, others trail
ribbons and bows.
A
grave blanket is usually placed upon a grave around Thanksgiving or Christmas when
all foliage is gone; the blanket provides color and decoration during the cold,
barren winter months. The placing of a grave blanket is considered personal;
therefore family members are usually the ones to lay a cemetery blanket upon a
loved one’s grave.
A
smaller version of the cemetery blanket is also made and is known as a grave
pillow, which is placed up near the headstone.
Most
grave blankets can be found in the colder sections of the country, including
Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa. Cemeteries will remove most grave blankets during
the month of March, allowing for the arrival of spring and a new growing
season.
~
Joy
