A funeral may be one of the saddest occasions that a person attends. Saying goodbye to loved ones is never easy. However, a funeral may also be a celebration of the person’s life or serve as closure for their loved ones.
In the UK, there are emerging non-traditional funeral types that serve as a respectable farewell to the person who has passed away. These burials may also reflect the personal passions and principles of the deceased.
Eco-Friendly Funerals
In 2017, there were 533,253 deaths registered in England and Wales. The numbers are increasing every year, as well as the interest for eco-friendly burials. People with environmental causes find that using biodegradable coffins, shrouds, or urns is a more dignified way of uniting with nature. They also opt to be buried in the woodlands or meadows instead of memorial parks. The location becomes significant to their loved ones. This making it easier to protect the site against deforestation. There are also other unorthodox ways, such as encasing your body into a pod that will sprout into a tree.
Right here in the UK, there are pre paid eco-friendly funeral plans that help you leave a lighter footprint. They offer biodegradable coffins made of sustainable materials like wood, willow, and wool.
Humanist Funeral Services
A humanist ceremony is a non-religious service for those who don’t conform to any religion. A survey by the British Social Attitudes found that 50% of the people in the UK do not subscribe to any religion. Due to this, humanist ceremonies have become popular. These services may follow any format, so each humanist funeral is unique to the deceased person.
Humanist services also give you the autonomy to decide what happens at the funeral. You may include a tribute to the person who has passed away, outlining their life and personality. There can also be readings of the person’s favorite lines from novels or poems. A typical humanist funeral consists of seven elements. The celebrant may add to or remove the parts. There’s no script to follow as long as the service is personal to the deceased, family and friends.
Celebration of Life
The name already says it. This type of funeral service focuses on the joy that the person brought to others. It’s not a somber affair as it a time to celebrate the deceased’s personality and achievements. There is lots of laughter and storytelling. The event is also personalized to reflect the kind of life that the person lived. For example, if your loved one was an avid comic book fan – you may showcase their collection. Choices for music and readings also depend on the deceased’s interests.
A Celebration of Life doesn’t have to be held at a funeral home. It may or may not be religious. It also doesn’t follow the traditional format of a funeral service. You’re free to include parts that your loved one would approve of. This type may not be for everyone, but this is a great occasion for those who want to celebrate the person’s individuality.
People grieve differently. There are people who prefer the sober dignity of a traditional church funeral. There are also others who want to say goodbye with a bang. Death has become a way to express one’s individuality, and to celebrate the impact that they’ve had on others. At the end of the day, we want to remember and pay our respects the ones we’ve loved and lost.
