Tag Archives: Burial

Historic Haida Pit Burial

A simple, archaic burial for the commoners of this indigenous society

Despite some unpleasant connotations throughout history, pit burial was once commonplace among the indigenous people of the American northwest coast (modern-day British Columbia). The Haida people, rather than individual burial, would place the remains of people who had died into … Continue reading

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New Eco-Friendly Coffin for Cremation

The Innovative Soul Ash Solace Coffin from Maximal Design of Belgium

Soul Ash Solace has an innovative design for a funereal vessel- it is made of light-weight materials that are completely biodegradable, (and much less harmful for our planet than showy, lacquered coffins and the like) such as papier-mache and corrugated … Continue reading

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Book Review: “Cremation or Burial? A Jewish View” by Doron Kornbluth

A case advocating burial over the increasingly popular practice of cremation

Modern society tends to prefer cremation: it is perceived as cheaper than a burial, more environmentally sound, and, well, just more hip. To the contemporary person, “the idea of scattering ashes seems a eco-friendly alternative” to burial. The idea of … Continue reading

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Hawaiian Cave Burials

Creating a domain for the deceased lies in hollowed ground

Many know the cavernous mountains of Hawaii by their post-card fame. And yet, prior to their celebrity, they served a far more intimate purpose: the native tradition of cave burial. The process of a cave burial began immediately. Firstly, there … Continue reading

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Re-Thinking How Our Culture Experiences the Cemetery

Using your memorial to add beauty to the world

In addition to our growing inclination towards contemporary practices like cremation and green burial, there is one simpler way for us to re-imagine the cultural staple that is the cemetery. What if we see the grounds as a gallery of … Continue reading

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Life, Death and Burial in Colonial America

Colonial American Puritan burial customs, born of times of intense tribulation, continue to inform burial practice today

As people across the country cook and eat and drink, share laughter and arguments and stories for Thanksgiving, what this writer has always considered our most refreshing and simple national holiday, perhaps we might do well to remember the tradition’s … Continue reading

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Simplicity in Amish Funerary Traditions

The culture of modesty breeds modest -- and eco-friendly -- funeral practices

Have you ever witnessed an Amish funeral? Unless you are, in fact, part of that community, you likely have not, and may have never even pondered it. They are modest and simple events, involving members of the family and the … Continue reading

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A Coffin Design that Facilitates a Family’s Right to Say Goodbye

The Disaster Coffin replaces the body bag and allows families to perform funeral rites

Hungarian designer Adam Miklosi has created a brilliant design that finds the ultimate balance between aesthetics and function. His LR16 Disaster Coffin addresses the need for a mass-production casket that allows for the facilitation of dignified funeral rituals. Traditionally, in … Continue reading

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Wireless Enabled Granite Solves Problem of No Headstone for Green Burial

New product provides the geographic location of the burial site by one touch of a compatible cell phone.

Phoenix, Arizona - Objecs, the owner of the RosettaStone brand of memorial products, has introduced a one pound granite obelisk for use in green burial memorials where traditionally no headstone is present. The stone obelisk is made from a solid block … Continue reading

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[A]Dressing the Dead: Garments for the Grave

Pia Interlandi Designs Burial Clothing for Stages of Transformation

Pia Interlandi is a fashion designer, artist, funeral celebrant, and teacher based in Melbourne, Australia. She often incorporates ideas of death, ritual, and transformation into her unique designs, and has even designed clothing for burial, informed by a fascination with human … Continue reading

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A Look at Japanese Funeral Practices

Cultural Traditions in a Country with Almost 100% Cremation Rate

Japan has the highest cremation rate in the world, over 99%, with some local governments even banning burials. Until after World War II, cremation was reserved for the rich, but once the cleanliness and efficiency of the practice were recognized, … Continue reading

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Green Burial Makes its Way to South Africa

The country opens its first eco-cemetery.

Last month, South Africa opened the country’s first green cemetery. Weisenhof Legacy Park was created within the oldest privately-owned nature reserve in the country. The park set aside a portion of its space for burial and memorial sites. It will … Continue reading

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