Towards the Rising Sun

Every day brings a new lesson for the truth-seeker. Or, put another way, I had no idea that graves traditionally faced east. But someone in Kildare in Ireland does, and is not happy that a new graveyard  planned by his council is going to point south instead.

It is customary in numerous religions and most Christian denominations that graves are aligned towards the sun. 

Local man Eamon Broughan said he always believed that this should be the case, but in the new graveyard that is being prepared by Kildare County Council at present the graves will face south, he claims. 

He said he met with officials at Kildare County Council who said that they would be sensitive to his concerns and would make arrangements for him to make sure he faced east, if he wished.

The story goes on to say that, in fact, the Catholic Church has no rule on which direction graves should face. It's a matter of custom, not Canon Law, apparently. I must have visited hundreds of graveyards, often in the company of very erudite people. But not once have I heard about this business of orientation (literally facing east).