Yes, I've seen news items about that! It also comes up in relation to roadside memorials. My personal drawing-the-line point is when the teddybears get left to the elements and decay disturbingly - I don't think it was the intent of the leavers...!
I do sometimes wonder if there's a class element to these things, as regards what is seen as a 'proper', 'tasteful' or 'appropriate' way to mark someone's death.
I'm also not very convinced by the idea that it's against the national character; the sheer number of people expressing themselves in that way would suggest the national character is changing. It might be going back to what it was earlier; I understand (though would need to dig up references) that stoicism in the face of grief is historically a very recent change - Victorian or Edwardian, perhaps?
And yeah, there's also an argument that we're very charmed by leaving stuff at the grave when we can view it as a colourful foreign tradition, but balk at it on our own doorstep. I also wonder how it links to our post-funeral coldness: people here tend to make a fuss until the funeral and then suddenly all support vanishes... it's like putting things on the grave is a way to remind yourself and others that the grief is still there and needs acknowledgement...
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I do sometimes wonder if there's a class element to these things, as regards what is seen as a 'proper', 'tasteful' or 'appropriate' way to mark someone's death.
I'm also not very convinced by the idea that it's against the national character; the sheer number of people expressing themselves in that way would suggest the national character is changing. It might be going back to what it was earlier; I understand (though would need to dig up references) that stoicism in the face of grief is historically a very recent change - Victorian or Edwardian, perhaps?
And yeah, there's also an argument that we're very charmed by leaving stuff at the grave when we can view it as a colourful foreign tradition, but balk at it on our own doorstep. I also wonder how it links to our post-funeral coldness: people here tend to make a fuss until the funeral and then suddenly all support vanishes... it's like putting things on the grave is a way to remind yourself and others that the grief is still there and needs acknowledgement...