7 Things You Should Know About Cremation
Published December 18th, 2019
There are a lot of things you should know about cremation. Some might have a grain of truth to it while others are just too far-fetched to even merit consideration. But amidst all these, one thing is for sure: it has revolutionized the funeral industry.
The thought of burning your loved one’s deceased body until it’s reduced to ashes might be hard to grasp for some. But it’s becoming a popular end-of-life option for most people.
According to the Cremation Association of North America, the cremation rate in the US is at 53.1% in 2018 – a big jump from 3.56% in 1960. And it’s not showing signs of slowing down. This only means that more Americans prefer to be cremated than buried in the traditional way.
But why the sudden rise in cremation rates? What makes cremation so popular among baby boomers and millennials?
Here are Eight Things You Should Know About Cremation
1. It’s Not a Modern Concept
Cremation might be a new concept for some but it’s far from modern. The practice has been around as early as 3,000BC. Many ancient civilizations like the Celtic Druids and Vikings have funeral pyres. It’s a wooden structure used to burn a deceased body during a funeral rite.
Funeral pyres were the precursors to modern cremation. The deceased body is placed upon or under the pyre before it’s set on fire. Though the practice has disappeared over time, it’s now seeing a resurgence in the form of cremation.
2. It’s Not As Bad For The Environment As You Might Think
A common belief about cremation is that it uses too much fuel, which is bad for the environment. This might be true several years ago but not as much now.
Modern cremation techniques do not use flames to cremate a deceased body. Instead, the body is exposed to extreme heat and pressure causing it to disintegrate until only the bones remain.
Cremation machines used to require tons of fuel just to cremate a body completely. But modern cremation machines are now more efficient. It can complete the cremation process in a shorter amount of time, thus using lesser fuel.
3. It’s Much More Affordable
This one of the important things you should know about cremation. In general, cremation is much more affordable than traditional burials. That’s because it allows you to do away with the usual trappings of a traditional burial rite.
You don’t need to buy caskets or a plot of land to bury your dead loved ones. Foregoing even just these two items can already save you a lot of money. A burial plot in an urban public cemetery can cost you as much as $2,000. While casket prices can range from 2,000 to $10,000.
Direct cremation, on the other hand, costs only around $495 to $1,500 depending on the area. Instead of caskets, you only have to buy an urn to put the cremains in. You can buy these urns for as low as $50 depending on the material. (Related: How Much Is The Average Cost of Cremation in Florida)
As to the disposal of the cremains, there are various affordable options to choose from. Scattering of ashes in the ocean only costs around $150 to $600 depending on the type of ceremony. While scattering the cremains in your backyard would cost you virtually nothing.
4. You Can Still Hold a Viewing Ceremony
Most people think that they have to choose between holding a memorial rite and cremation. But that’s hardly the case at all.
The truth is, you can still hold a viewing ceremony and choose cremation. In fact, many people are doing it. They embalmed the body then place it in a casket for final viewing. Afterward, the body is transported to a crematorium for cremation.
5. Many Unique Options for Burial Are Made Possible by Cremation
As opposed to traditional burial, cremation offers you more choices as to your final resting place. And many companies are getting very innovative about it.
From scattering ashes at sea to turning the cremains into diamonds, the choice seems infinite. One company even offers to press your ashes into vinyl records. (Related: What To Do With Cremation Ashes)
6. Ash-Mixing Is Almost Entirely Not Possible
Another part of the things you should know about cremation is that you might bring home the wrong ashes. But the chances of this happening are almost nil.
Cremation chambers can only fit a single body at a time. So there’s very little possibility that remains from two different bodies will get mixed. Besides, licensed funeral parlors usually have a standard operating procedure in place to prevent this from happening.
7. The Ashes Are Not Really Ashes
Technically, the cremains that we refer to as “ashes” are not really ashes. They are, in fact, bone fragments that were pulverized into a sand-like texture.
Remember that during the cremation process, the body disintegrates until only the bones remain. These bones are then collected and put into a pulverizer where it’s ground to tiny bits.
Interested In Our Services?
Here at Big Blue Sea Services we take memorial services seriously. Book a time with us to scatter ashes at sea off the coast of Florida with your friends and family present. Our charters are sure to make the moment a memorable experience.
About The Author
Judy Ponio is a firm believer in the power of a sense of spirituality and she wants to share that with the world. She also loves to write about art, design, and more.
March 12, 2020 @ 11:04 pm
It’s comforting to know that ash-mixing in funeral parlors are actually just myths. When grandma told me when I was a kid that she wanted to be cremated once her time comes and all I ever thought of it was a fear of getting to take home the ashes of a different person. It would be painful once she’s gone from this world, indeed, but I will make sure that I will be the one to fulfill her request to be cremated someday.
May 2, 2020 @ 12:11 am
It’s good to know that cremation doesn’t use a lot of fuel so the myth can be put to rest. One of the most distinct characteristics of my recently deceased grandfather is that he was an environmental activist back in his day so I’d like to honor him by being as eco-friendly as possible for his funeral. Perhaps getting him cremated afterwards would be something he would appreciate.