Grave diggers show off their skills at unique Hungarian competition

Like death itself, this was no joke.A grave-digging contest in a Hungarian cemetery may sound like the opening line of a comedy sketch.It proved to be anything but as 38 competitors grabbed picks and shovels on Saturday.The Hungarian Association of Cemetery Maintainers and Operators organizes the contest to showcase the grave-digging trade and its skills, and shake off death-related taboos.The dry summer-baked soil in the public cemetery in Nyergesújfalu, northern Hungary, proved a worthy adversary for the 19 two-man teams.

They huffed and puffed and sweated as they raced for the title of quickest-dug and most stylish grave.“Speed is the main thing here, not the beauty,” said Róbert Nagy, the victor with his teammate László Kiss.“When you have to dig a grave for a funeral, you have to be very careful about the exact dimensions and to make sure that it is beautifully carved.” Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.Please provide a valid email.

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Their winning time was 1 hour, 21 minutes, digging to contest specifications of graves 1.6 meters (5½ feet) deep, 2 meters (6½ feet) long and 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) wide.They shared a cash prize of 200,000 Hungarian forints (about $640)....