Cremation is the burning up of a dead body. Burial is a common method of disposing of the dead in many countries, but cremation is increasing in popularity in areas such as the United States, Canada, and Europe. Reasons include the high cost and environmental impact of burial and changing attitudes toward cremation.
People have practiced cremation throughout history. The ancient Chinese and Egyptians did not use it. But the ancient Greeks and Romans practiced it. They believed that burning the body purified the soul and released it from its earthly form. The early Christians believed that the soul would eventually be reunited with the body. They thus considered cremation a form of disrespect.
Today, most funeral directors can arrange a cremation. A funeral service may take place before or after the burning. The cremation is performed in a building called a crematory or crematorium. The body is put in a coffin or other container and burned in a special oven from one to four hours at temperatures of 1500 to 2000 °F (800 to 1100 °C). The remaining bones are then pulverized in a device called a cremulator. The remains, commonly called ashes, are placed in a container called an urn and given to the relatives of the dead person. The relatives may keep the ashes, bury them in a cemetery, or place them in a burial vault called a columbarium. Some people ask that their ashes be scattered in a particular place, such as a favorite lake.
Cremation remained uncommon in Christian countries until the 1800’s. At that time, concern about land use in urban areas and sanitation helped reawaken interest in cremation. The first legally recognized crematory for public use opened in Milan, Italy, in 1876. Crematories were first established in the United States in 1884.
