Non-Standard Funerary Practices

My top three unique funeral practices from around the world and the implications of their implementation in Canada

Today we were posed the question, "What kinds of non-standard funerary practices can you find that are available to (or may become available to) Canadians?"  Well, after not that much time at all I was able to compile quite and extensive list of some very interesting funeral practices from around the world.  At first many of them seemed too "out there" to really be taken seriously but then I sat back and really thought about what a standard funeral was in my mind and what the purpose of such a ceremony was and came up with a few key ideas. In most places in the world a funeral ceremony is a way for loved ones to pay their respects to the deceased. In some instances the last wishes of the departed play a large role in the nature of the ceremony itself.  Personally, I have never been to a funeral in my life, therefore my idea of a standard funeral is largely based on what I have seen on T.V. or in the media. To give one an idea, my vision of a standard funeral consists of a Hurst, a large coffin and a group of friends and family members wearing all black in mourning and huddled around a small plot in a cemetery while the body and coffin are slowly lowered into the ground. Not to mention its probably raining or cold and dreary, not a fun occasion to say the least.  Nonetheless, this is what I picture when I think of a funeral.  With that in mind I scoured the internet for some unique takes on this practice boiled them down to a top three.

1. Sky Burial

 

Image retrieved on Jan 17, 2012 from: http://vajratool.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/vultures-and-charnel-grounds-east-and-west/

This was by far one of the most unique funerary practices I came across, not to mention the most gruesome. Sky burial is defined as  "..the deliberate, culturally countenanced, exposure of human corpses to carrion birds" (Martin, 1996, pp 353). This unusual practice is limited to only a very small number of cultures, with it being practiced amongst the Zoroastrians in Persia, two Parsi communities in India, and most prevalently in Tibet (Martin, 1996, pp 353).  It is theorized that this practice originated in Persia, though little is know about its actual origins.  In Tibet, sky burial is most often often reserved for commoners or poor folk who cannot afford more lavish ceremonies and actual though this is not a rule.  To begin the ceremony, bodies of the recently decease are bound in the fetal position and and wrapped in cloth (Martin, 1996, pp 358).  They are then taking to the families house where ritual food and drink are consumed (Martin, 1996, pp 358).  Early the next morning the body is then carried in a procession to a high flat rock ledge, where it is then stripped and the flesh cut (Martin, 1996, pp 359). It is then left until vultures have devoured all the flesh on the corpse (Martin, 1996, pp 359).  Then the bones themselves are ground into a powder and mixed with barley flour which is again given to the vultures (Martin, 1996, pp 359).  While this funeral practice may seem gruesome or barbaric in western culture, it is derived Tibet, for the most part, out of need. For example, the Tibetan plateau has a distinct lack of arable land suitable for excavation, this along with a very limited supply of fuel required for cremations (Martin, 1996, pp 360).  Another interpretation is that it is a final gift back to nature.

Will this ever be undertaken in Canada? Doubtful, very doubtful. While it is an important part of Tibetan culture I feel that this tradition would never gain acceptance in western society due to its graphic nature and aversion to widely held religious beliefs.  Nonetheless, it is still one of the most unique and fascinating funeral practices I have ever come across.

2. Space Memorial 

 

Star Trek Funeral retrieved Jan 17, 2012 from: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/File:John_Kelly_burial.jpg 

Alright so we may not have the technology to have a full on Starfleet funeral aboard a starship, but should you so choose you can currently have your ashes shot into space aboard scientific or commercial spacecraft. This service is currently available to anyone in the world through a company known as Celestis (http://www.celestis.com/).  This company offers families the ability to send as much as 14g of cremated remains into Earth orbit.  In the future they hope to place remains aboard spacecraft orbiting the moon as well as travelling out into deep space.  Another option Celestis offers is a space flight with return to Earth. Through the website families can book accommodations and plan activities around a space launch, once the remains return to earth the capsule is returned to family members as a keepsake.

 

Memorial Spaceflight trajectory retrieved from: http://www.celestis.com/popUps/New_Mexico_trajectory.htm

While this may seem odd to some, many people, in life dream, of visiting outer space.  In fact, this funeral practice may be in clear religious conflict for many.  However, this is a just one type of a new and developing funeral practice and is a prime example of taking a loved ones last wishes into account and honouring their memory. While this is an American based company, it is open to anyone that wishes to have their remains sent up to eternally explore the "Final Frontier."

3. Eternal Reef

Last, but definitely not least, on my list of unique funeral practices is the eternal reef (http://www.eternalreefs.com/about/about.html). This idea began  in the 1980s as an attempt by two college students  to assist the recovery of damaged coral reefs off the Florida Keys. Several years later one of the founders father in-law mentioned in passing that he would like nothing better to be a part of the reef system when he died and thus this gave rise to the idea of the Eternal reef.  Individuals that choose this burial method are cremated and placed within specially designed "reef balls." Also included on these reef balls is a memorial plaque to recognize the person entombed within. 

This a very interesting combination of memorial and ecological restoration. Not only does it provide a relatively long lasting structure which can be visited by loved ones, it also helps to restore reef habitat and effectively integrate the individual back in the environment.  As issues affecting the environment continue to at the forefront of our minds these days, I feel funerary practices such as this will gain in popularity as individuals seek to make a positive impact on the environment, even in death.  Although Canada may not have coral reefs, an idea along the same lines as this would definitely be a viable option.   Until this search I had never really thought of funerary options like this. However, after giving it a good deal of thought this definitely an option I would consider.

Having to condense all the interesting funerary practises down into a list of the top three was not easy.  There are so many different practices that are significant or special in their own way.  Since Canada is such a multicultural country, in the future I would expect to see a rise in non-standard funerals or at least rise in funeral practices of different cultures.  Some practices, such as Sky Burials, will most likely never be fully accepted by western society, however, understanding its significance and importance to some cultures is still crucial.

REFERENCES



 Smith, D 1996, 'On the Cultural Ecology of Sky Burial on the Himalayan Plateau', East and West, vol. 43, no. 3.