The dry, summer-baked soil in the public cemetery in Nyergesújfalu, northern Hungary, proved a worthy adversary for the 19 two-man teams taking part in a grave-digging competition. Participants huffed, puffed and sweated as they raced for the title of quickest-dug and most stylish grave.
Like death itself, the event was no joke, according to U.S. News. A grave-digging contest in a Hungarian cemetery may sound like the opening line of a comedy sketch, but the competition was intended to highlight the skills and physical demands of the profession. The event took place in Nyergesújfalu, a town in northern Hungary, ABC News reported.
Róbert Nagy and his teammate László Kiss won the competition. Nagy said the main goal was speed rather than the appearance of the finished grave.
The contest attracted 19 two-man teams, with each pair working together to dig a grave under time pressure. Participants were judged on both speed and style as they worked in the public cemetery.
The competition showcased the skills of professional gravediggers while also attempting to reduce some of the taboos surrounding death. Organizers hoped the unusual event would bring greater attention to the profession and help make conversations about death less uncomfortable.
The summer conditions added another challenge. The soil was extremely dry and hard, making the already demanding work even more difficult for competitors.
Although the event was competitive, it also served as a way to recognize the physical labor and expertise involved in grave digging. For the participants, the contest was about winning, but it also provided an opportunity to honor a profession that usually receives little public attention.
IMAGE: DNR Art Department