An increasing number of people identify as non-religious, and do not want the faith-based aspect of a traditional burial in favour of a cremation service; however, certain elements are common to both services. Planning your own funeral is difficult; there is a lot to consider, including whether you want to be buried or cremated. While
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A funeral is an opportunity to say farewell to a loved one and offer support to their family and friends, but their increasingly celebratory nature means funeral etiquette has also evolved. The wishes of the departed and their family is of the utmost importance, and understanding proper funeral etiquette will help avoid any faux pas.
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When a member of the armed forces dies in active service, they’re entitled to a military funeral and service burial, or funding towards a private funeral if the family wishes. Consequently, a military funeral may take many forms, although there are some key ceremonial traditions that are common to many; among these is the draping
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A natural burial is an emerging trend as traditional burials no longer reflect the way people live or how they choose to be remembered. Cremations now outnumber burials, but more eco-friendly alternatives are emerging, based on the idea of returning the body to the earth in an organic way. Natural burials mirror the way our
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Memorial gardens are a unique tribute to a lost loved one, and place of peace, comfort and hope to those they left behind. They can take many forms, from a single tree to an oasis of flowers with a commemorative stone or plaque. Memorial gardens are increasing in popularity as a healing and therapeutic way
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Choosing the right funeral music can be challenging – do you want something traditional and classic, or an uplifting and celebratory anthem, a favourite pop song, or something a bit more conventional? It can be daunting deciding what music you’d like. Funerals are becoming increasingly tailored and celebratory, so selecting your own funeral music is
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Cremations and cremation urns have a long and varied history; from plain and simple, to ornate and decorative, cremation urns are a way of memorializing a loved one in a beautiful way. Cremation is one of the longest-standing commemorative traditions in history, and cremation urns signify respect in storing the deceased’s ashes. The earliest evidence
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Royal Funerals are unlike any other; bound by tradition and protocol, these large-scale services require a massive amount of forward planning. Just like a military operation, royal funerals are given a specific codename. Prince Philip’s was Operation Forth Bridge, the Queen’s is known as Operation London Bridge and Prince Charles’ is named Operation Menai Bridge.
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Funerals allow family and friends to come together to grieve and celebrate the life of a loved one who has recently departed, but there’s an increasing trend to do this while they are still alive with a living funeral. Living funerals were popularised in Japan in the 1990s. The ageing population felt they were burdening
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Humanist funerals are replacing the tradition and ceremony of religious funerals with a focus on a life well lived, rather than a person’s faith. More people than ever before now identify as non-religious. The faith-based aspect of religious funerals has fallen out of favor, resulting in an 80% decline in traditional religious funerals in the
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