Tag Archives: Burial

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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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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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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