Why Are Graves Six Feet Deep? The Plague Panic That Created "Six Feet Under"

You know that feeling when someone says “six feet under” and everybody nods? The real story behind the number involves a panicked mayor, the 1665 plague, bad science, and why most graves today aren't even that deep. Dig in for the weird history.Why do we bury people six feet under? The surprising origin traces back to the 1665 London bubonic plague, when the Lord Mayor issued a desperate public health order amid chaos and miasma fears. Discover how this crisis rule became cultural shorthand for death, why most modern graves aren't actually that deep, and the real reasons behind burial depths—from grave robbers to green burials.In this episode of the show that digs up strange truths behind everyday things nobody questions, we uncover the panicked mayor, bad science about smelly air, plague pits, and how a 17th-century memo turned into a permanent cultural fixture. From resurrection men stealing bodies to why some graves today are shallower for natural decomposition, it's equal parts public health panic, practical problem-solving, and humanity's need for order in the face of the unknown. Perfect for fans of hidden history, weird facts, and death rituals.