When someone dies, something has to happen to their body. Unfortunately science means that body is going to decompose. It’s not healthy for anyone (psychologically or physically) for it to be hanging around. Currently there are two main options for what we in the death business call body disposition: burial or cremation. Let’s take a look at both of them.
NB before you read any further: as with many of my funeral posts, this one includes frank and open discussion of how we deal with dead bodies. If that’s not for you, please stop reading now. If you need help with your grief, please click here to visit my page of grief organisations and resources.
Burial/interment
To be absolutely clear, a burial (also called interment) is where the deceased’s intact body (not the cremated ashes) is buried. It may or may not be buried within a coffin or a casket. For example:
- Muslim people are generally buried only in a simple white cotton or linen shroud (the kafan)
- natural burial grounds require bodies to be buried in biodegradable coffins or shrouds.
Burial option
There are several options available for burial. Different options will be available depending on the cemetery you choose, including:
- lawn graves with a plaque (traditional holes in the earth with a simple bronze plaque) – two to three bodies per grave
- lawn graves with a headstone (traditional holes in the earth with an upright stone marker) – two to three bodies per grave
- monumental grave (premium graves providing a solid foundation for a bespoke memorial) – two to three bodies per grave
- vaults (a concrete-lined grave that encloses the coffin) – two bodies per vault
- mausoleum crypts (above ground individual or double resting places, sealed in marble or granite, housed in free-standing buildings)
- private mausolea (a private mausoleum established for an individual family within a public cemetery)
- natural burials (eco-friendly burial options with no memorialisation that return the body to nature) – one body per grave
Memorialisation at the grave site
A plaque or headstone is often erected at the site of the burial (depending on the burial option selected). Friends and family can go and visit the grave whenever they want, leaving flowers or other tokens of remembrance. It is possible to bury up to three people in the same grave, or to purchase plots side by side for family members. Some people find comfort in having their family members’ remains close to each other.
Where do burials occur?
In Victoria burials almost always take place in designated public cemeteries. It is extremely rare to be granted government permission to be buried on private land, although it does happen occasionally under specific circumstances.
Religious views on burial
Less than 10% of the funerals I have performed have involved a burial. The rest have been chapel ceremonies followed by a cremation. From speaking to funeral directors I understand that burials are more common in religious funerals than civil ones. Certainly in some religions cremation is prohibited, including:
- Islam
- Orthodox Judaism
- Greek Orthodox
- Russian Orthodox.
The Roman Catholic Church used to prohibit cremation but that changed in 1963. However many Catholics still opt for burial due to their belief in the physical resurrection of the body.
Other considerations
Burials are generally more expensive than cremations, because (in Victoria at least) you are buying a cemetery plot in perpetuity (forever). The remains placed in a grave in Victoria can never be removed.
Burials are also less environmentally-friendly than cremations. Although cremations produce more carbon emissions initially, there is no long-term environmental impact.
Cremation
A creation is where the deceased person’s body is cremated (burned) at an extremely high temperature until it is reduced to ashes. The ashes (sometimes called cremains) are then returned to the family.
Rates of cremation
It is estimated that approximately 70% of body disposition in Australia is through cremation. In contrast, the rate of cremation in selected other Western countries is:
- United States of America: 58%
- Canada: 75%
- New Zealand: 76%
- England and Wales: 82$
- Scotland: 72%
- Northern Ireland: 23%
Religious views on cremation
Apart from the religions I listed in the burial section above, most religions are on board with cremation, including:
- Hinduism
- Sikhism
- Many sects of Christianity
- Buddhism.
What do people do with the ashes?
As well as traditional options such as interring or scattering the ashes, there are now all sorts of things you can do with them, with seemingly more appearing every day:
- you can put ashes into tattoo ink and choose an appropriate memorial tattoo
- ashes can be turned into glass, which can then be turned into ornaments, handheld keepsakes, or jewellery
- ashes can be turned into diamonds, which can again be set into jewellery
- other jewellery is available that acts as a tiny urn – you pour a tiny amount of ashes into it to wear with you at all times
- gorgeous modern urns are available if you want to keep your loved one’s ashes at home with you in a vessel that’s not so obviously an urn
- ashes can be pressed into a vinyl record of your loved one’s favourite song or one that reminds you of them
- a symbolic portion of the ashes can be launched into space as part of a real space mission
Other considerations
Cremation is generally cheaper than burial, although what you do with the ashes may push that price up.
Cremation is generally better for the environment than burial in the long term, despite the initial high rate of carbon emissions.
We’re running out of space for burials across the world, and to be honest cremation may one day become the only option. In parts of China burials are prohibited for this reason; they just don’t have any room left.
How do you want your remains to be dealt with, through burial or cremation?
