Tonga

In Tonga, graves are covered in pale sand.

At traditional funerals, white coral sand is carried from the beach to the grave. Once the earth has been filled back in, the sand is spread across the top as a pale layer, sometimes together with black and white beach stones. Gathering the sand has long been part of the funeral rite.

Today sand may not be taken from beaches for building, but an exception is made for funerals.