Blog-Traditions & Culture

A memorial tree is an eco-friendly way to remember your loved one. Seeing the tree grow will remind you of your loved one's presence. But you should plan the ceremony carefully so that it remains etched in the mind of the guests attending the ceremony.
You should carefully think about the following aspects before the ceremony.

The species of the plant

You can choose your loved one's favorite plant as the memorial tree. But take care to see that it suits your climate, soil and geographical location. It should be easy to nurture. It should be long-lasting. You may not be able to spend too much time on nurturing the tree. If the tree produces beautiful blooms then it is certain to give you a pleasant feeling. You can also select a plant on the basis of its symbolic meaning.

The location of the tree

Where are you going to plant the tree? Does your private garden have enough space for the tree? Is there a nature park or forest trail where it can be planted? You can also purchase a memorial tree in a memorial park. If you plant a tree in your own garden you can watch it grow and nurture it well.

Planning the memorial service

You can use the deceased's ashes in an urn to plant the tree. The urns are usually eco-friendly. The ashes can be scattered or buried under the tree. You may also include the deceased's memorabilia during the service. Read out a poem or letter written by the deceased at the service. You can also give out tokens to people attending the memorial. A personalized plaque can also be placed near the tree.

You can conduct the memorial service and tree planting yourself or contact professionals for the service.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

Finding the right words for headstone inscriptions in a way that commemorates your lost loved one is difficult. Even if you have a way with words, doing justice to the memory of the person and summing up their life in an inscription is a heavy burden. That is why we bring you a few ideas for headstone inscriptions that can be the right tribute for your lost loved one.

Using life references

This category involves inscriptions acknowledging the roles that person has played in their life. These can also cover personal sentiments that you want to express.

● Here lies a beloved father, husband, and son

● Here lies a policeman who served her country well

● His presence made the world a richer place

Personal markers

This is an informal statement that can either be a direct quote from your loved one or someone else:

● "Live to the fullest, for life is all too short."

● “Love is the greatest gift of all.”

● "I hate to leave you all behind, but we'll meet again one day."

Faith quotes

These can be Bible or other scriptures’ verses that turn out to be great marker sayings:

● "They can no longer die; for they are like the angels." - Luke 20:36

● "Where, O death, is your victory: where, O death, is your sting?" - 1 Corinthians 15:55

● "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live." - John 11:25

It's not easy to decide the right inscription for the headstone of a loved one. If you want to protect your family and friends from the responsibility of selecting your epitaph, you can consider what you want your headstone to say and let them know beforehand. Just be sure that you choose carefully as this will be your last impression.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

KarenThe traditional burial is expensive and can be harmful to the environment. This has resulted in the popularity of green burial.

How is green burial different from traditional burial?

A green burial eliminates many of the harmful process involved in a traditional burial. The green burial uses fewer resources by skipping some steps involved in conventional burial. The green burial does not involve procedures like embalming. Skipping embalming prevents the use of chemicals and hastens the decomposition process. Green burials also avoid the use of concrete vaults and non-biodegradable burial containers.

Benefits of green burial.

Green burial is beneficial for the environment. It leaves behind a lesser carbon footprint. Skipping vaults, coffins and embalming can reduce funeral expenses considerably. In many cases, bodies are wrapped in sheets made of biodegradable materials like cotton. This reduces cost and helps in the decomposition of the body. The green burial can be carried out in a conservation park. Here families are given an option of planting various plants, shrubs and trees on the grave of their loved ones.

If there are no green cemeteries near your residence then you can take simple steps for the benefit of the environment. You can choose coffins made with harvested wood and organic liners instead of concrete vaults. Burial planning experts can help you to plan a green burial. A green burial gives you the satisfaction of returning to your maker without harming the environment.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

William Shakespeare's skull was stolen from his tomb! Who did it is still a mystery, but people believe it has something to do with the epitaph which the Bard himself wrote. The idea of the lyrics are:

"Hey, good friend,

For the sake of Jesus, don’t dig here.

Anyone who touches my bones will have a curse,

and those who don't will be blessed."

Grave robbers were a great menace during Shakespeare's times. The writer was afraid that someone will try to steal his bones. This worry prompted him to pen his epitaph, which was inscribed on his tombstone.

Here Are Some Interesting Facts About Epitaphs

• The short description can be a poem or prose.
• Many extinct cultures' language samples were found in epitaphs.
• Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations placed a lot of prominence in epitaphs.

In all its essence, an epitaph can be considered as a message from the dead to their visitors.

The WOW Epitaphs

Woodmen of the World was an American insurance company that used a unique branding technique. It gave a free gravestone and $100 to the nearest relative of the departed to put the company logo on the stone. The graves of the members of the company carry the word, 'WOW.'

Meaning Of Motifs Alongside Epitaphs

The symbols carved on the gravestones have hidden meanings.

• A tree or a broken flower: A forced end to life.
• Winged hourglass: Time flies.
• Hands folded in prayer: Devotion.
• Hand pointing down: An abrupt end to life.
• Handshake: Couple united in death.

Expression Of Love And Commitment

Rather than a tradition, most people like to see an epitaph as a token of love and adoration for the departed soul.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

In much of the western world, funerals are somber events attended by traditionally dressed people in black attire. Over the years, it has become an unwritten rule that anyone who attends a funeral must be dressed in black, especially in the U.S. and other western countries.

Why is black so heavily associated with death and mourning? Historians trace this tradition back to the Roman Empire when people would wear a dark-colored toga called a toga pulla when attending funerals. The dark color choice was to show that they were mourning the passing of their loved one. 

This funeral tradition soon spread to England during the medieval periods. In fact, during the Victorian era, women whose husbands had passed were even expected to wear black attire for an entire year to express their grief. For a period of three years after that, they were allowed to wear gray and purple clothing – color choices to show that they were in “half-mourning”. Queen Victoria was also known to wear black when she attended funerals as a sign of mourning and respect for the deceased.

During the Industrial Revolution, this practice became more widespread when the working classes started wearing black at funerals. Soon, the color black's association with death and funerals spread to other western countries such as the U.S. and Canada. 

Do other cultures wear black at funerals also?

Considering its history, wearing black at funerals is a practice that is closely associated with Christianity and Roman Catholicism. It is not a universal color that represents death and mourning, despite its popularity in the west.

Many cultures in different parts of the world, especially those of Buddhist and Hindu faith, instead wear white to funerals. For them, the color white represents innocence and purity.

Thanks for reading,

Karen