UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF THE CREMATION PROCESS
Although cremation has long been favoured by people in the UK, it’s only starting to gain popularity in other countries. Despite that, however, there’s still a lot of misconceptions surrounding its practices. The following are just some of the facts about cremation services that most people may not be aware of.
1. Most Religions Now Accept Cremation, but Rules Vary
Cremation has become much more widely accepted now due to its practicality and cost-effectiveness. Many religions have welcomed cremation, but there are some exceptions and prohibitions on certain practices. For example, the Catholic Church permits cremation but prohibits the scattering of ashes. If you’re not sure about your religion’s stance on cremation, you should first confirm with your clergy if it is an accepted practice.
2. Cremation is Done One Coffin at a Time
To this day, some people still believe that cremation is done by piling dead bodies in a huge oven and setting them on fire. That’s actually far from the truth. In most places, the law only allows one body in the chamber at a time. The only exception to this is if the family specifically requests that two people be cremated together. Also, cremation chambers aren’t always designed to accommodate more than one body at a time.
3. Cremation is Fast, But Not That Fast
Compared to decomposition, which takes years, cremation only takes about two to three hours to completely reduce the body to ashes. While there are people out there who think that cremation only takes about 15-30 minutes, it actually takes hours to complete the process. There’s a lot of fuel that is required, and cremation is a long, energy-intensive process.
4. Embalming is Not Required if There is No Funeral or Viewing
Embalming is the process of preserving human remains by injecting and implanting embalming fluids to slow down the decomposition process temporarily. This is actually one of the factors that drive burial costs up. If you choose to have a viewing, embalming becomes a requirement. For some people, however, they prefer to just hold a memorial service after cremation.
There are also those who prefer “direct cremation,” which is when the body is cremated soon after death. The deceased is taken straight to the crematorium, and there is no funeral.
5. The Amount of Remains You Get Back Is Bigger than You Think
There’s a reason why cremated remains are placed in medium to large-sized urns. They’re not for aesthetic reasons only. Urns hold a significant amount of “ash” or remains, which is the by-product of the cremation process. They’re actually made up of bones that were left behind. The average human body holds about six to eight pounds of bone. All those remains will be left after the cremation, which is then grounded up using a processing machine. When they reach a powder-like consistency that looks almost like ash, they can fill up an entire urn, which is still a significant amount.
Conclusion
Cremation is a process that’s been around for thousands of years. Some of the older cremation practices have become buried and forgotten, while some have carried on and are still being used to this day. These tidbits of information about cremation are just some of the common misconceptions of people about the practice.
Holmes & Family Funeral Directors has been serving clients in the UK for more than 30 years. We make sure that your loved ones get proper care and treatment as we prepare their body for the final burial rites. Our local funeral home is always available whenever you need burial and cremation services. Give us a call today, and let us attend to your needs.