death
Everything You Need To Know About Cremation

Everything You Need To Know About Cremation

Cremation, also called incineration, is a funeral process that consists of burning the body of a deceased person to reduce it to ashes. The operation is carried out in a crematorium. The body of the deceased is burned at a temperature of about 900°C for about 90 minutes.

The history of cremation

cremation

Cremation is a funeral rite that originated in Anglo-Saxon countries. It is a practice much favored by the wealthy in ancient Rome, while the bodies of the poor and slaves are thrown into mass graves. Around 789, cremation was banned due to the advent of Christianity. This practice made a comeback in 1887, and it was thus admitted in the French legislation. The aim was to privilege the freedom of funerals. It was in 1963 that it was accepted by the Catholic religion. Although the progression of this practice is considerable, it still remains a minority in the whole of France, representing about 40% of funerals. However, cremation has become a mandatory practice in the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.

The steps to follow to organize a cremation

Find out the wishes of the deceased:

This involves finding out if the deceased left any instructions. We can also ask the family if the deceased has opted for cremation for his funeral. Failure to respect the wishes of the deceased may result in criminal sanctions. If neither of these two cases arise, the family or the deceased’s relatives can decide what practice to follow.

Choosing the funeral home:

This is a process based on the choice of the funeral company that will be in charge of organizing the cremation. The choice of the provider is made according to different criteria including price, proximity, professionalism and quality of service.

The time frame for the cremation

After the death of a person, the time period during which a cremation can be performed varies from one country to another. In France, for example, cremation is performed between 24 hours and 6 days after the death at the latest.

The steps of cremation

Several steps must be taken to perform a cremation

Putting the body in the coffin:

cremation

This is the act of placing the body of the deceased in a waterproof cover before placing it in its casket. The casketing is an essential step before leaving for the crematorium.

Closing the casket:

This is the step prior to sealing. According to article R 2213-20, the lid of the coffin is accompanied by a plate on which are engraved the information on the deceased as well as his year of death. This operation allows to protect the body.

The installation of seals:

Sealing is a mandatory step after the casket is closed. It serves as proof that the casket has not been opened after the various stages of the funeral. This operation is carried out by a representative of the State, either by a police officer, or by the mayor of the municipality in which the person died, or by a representative of the funeral company.

The ceremony in honor of the deceased:

The ceremony in tribute to the deceased is a practice, religious or secular, allowing the family and loved ones of the deceased to say their last goodbye. During this ceremony, before the cremation, all those attending may approach the casket to place bouquets of flowers.

Cremation:

The body of the deceased is introduced into the crematorium oven at a temperature of 900°C for one and a half hours. During this time, the family remains in another room with the funeral urn which must be provided with a plate on which are mentioned the name, the first names of the deceased and also the place of the cremation.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us if you want to learn more about cremeation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *