Clark putting dirt on the grave

[Honey45]

I figure they had Clark drop dirt on Lionel's grave the same way he did with Johnathan to show that Lionel was kind of like a father figure to him.
But what's with the dirt thing? I've never heard of this kind of thing before. Is it a Smallville thing? What does it symbolize?

[IamProdigy]

It's something sons, sometimes daughters, and people very close to the deceased does at a funeral. Clark did it with the snow for Jonathan, did that with Lionel, a row of people did it on One Tree Hill when Keith Scott died, and my friend did it when her dad died three years ago.

[ekoo]

In our family, we shovel or thrown all or most of the dirt onto the coffin and bury our dead.

[superhippie2000]

different religions and stuff do different things at burials. sometimes its just laying a rose or flower on the casket and other times its putting some dirt on the casket as a way of being part of the burial process. mostly its a son and or daughter and or spouse. also could be someone who is like a spouse or son or duahgter. if its a kid or someone with living parents the parents may do it too.

[gem65]

When we bury someone in my religion (Eastern Orthodoxy), we are given a flower before the service at the cemetary. Then during the service the Priest takes a very small shovel and sprinkles a little dirt on the casket in the shape of a Cross. When the service is over, everybody puts the flower they were given onto the casket.

[DontCha]

yes he was introduced as a sort of twisted father figure to clark after Jonathan died, He knew the secret and died protecting it much like Jonathan did.

[zodiscoming12345]

Its ironic that Jonathan died protecting the secret from Lionel.