Quote:
Originally posted by Paq
Also, during hte 18th/19th centuries, they would put a pole down with a string and a bell on the top side. The string would extend into the coffin so that if someone were alive, he could pull the string to alert someone above so they can dig him up. There were people who stayed at night to listen for any bells. From this, we get the terms, "Graveyard shift" and "Dead Ringer"
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That's also where the tradition of the "wake" comes from.