I always thought vampire just clawed through the coffin and dug their way up.

Ehh, I just remember it from the episode because I had a WTF moment about how professional the burial seemed... What with the headstone and all when YOU ARE KEEPING THE DEATH A SECRET!!!

Sorry, sorry... issues..

I don't know, deb, when vamps come out of the ground they are bursting from the coffins and clawing their way out (or partially out, anyway). I'm not sure that Xander would have seen an acutal burial aside from Joyce's.

I seem to recall rather a few fights with Buffy and a few of the Scoobs, with coffin bits poking out of the earth.

But it's a small point.

And a cross post with connie wherein we use the same descriptives!

(how on earth do they explain all those disturbed graves and coffin bits all the graveyeards of Sunnydale every second Thursday, anyway? I've often wondered....)

I've always pitied the groundskeepers who have to figure out something to do with all the dead demons.

Gas leak?
Gangs on PCP?
Sewer back-up?
Teddy Bears' Picnic?

Well, it's a fair question, innit? They raised the roof and nearly torched the town over two dead kids in a playground, but shards of mahogany coffin and piles of dust and green horned types lying around and no one even raises an eyebrow?

Teddy Bears' Picnic?

Especially if catered by Angelus.

Not to mention all the deaths caused by spontaneous neck ruptures.