Written by Gustave - Updated on Mar 5, 2025
More and more families are opting for cremation funerals when they lose a loved one.
Cremation is a method of burial in which the body is reduced to ashes through combustion. Like a traditional funeral, cremation humanizes the loss of a loved one and offers a solemn send-off. Yet many people still have reservations about the practice. Read on for a comprehensive look at the subject.
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What are the advantages of cremation?
Cremation of the human body is an age-old practice. And although it was once abandoned in the reign of Charlemagne, this funeral rite was reintegrated into Christian culture, as it has been in many others. A popular alternative to burial, cremation is a wise choice for many reasons. It is an economical and practical choice. In fact, the costs associated with a cremation funeral are lower than for a conventional funeral.
You avoid the expense of transporting the body and purchasing a burial plot if the ashes are to be scattered. In this context, you can benefit from the best rates by using a crematorium that complies with health and environmental standards, such as the one at https://funekerf.be/.
What's more, cremation is a popular burial method, because it is eco-responsible. It does not harm the environment. Better still, it makes up for the lack of space in cemeteries.
In concrete terms, this practice prevents soil pollution, unlike burial, which uses toxic products to treat the bodies. With the latter, the chemicals used infect the soil as the body decomposes, affecting its quality.
Finally, cremation funerals are accepted practices in various religions (Christianity, Buddhism, etc.) and countries.
What type of cremation should I choose?
The main advantage of choosing cremation for the funeral of a loved one remains the possibility offered to relatives of personally disposing of the deceased's ashes.
Unlike burial, this funeral rite offers a host of options. Generally, the ashes of the deceased are stored in an urn for :
- Buried in a grave ;
- Placed in a columbarium;
- Sealed in a dedicated vault.
In addition to these classic methods, you can choose to scatter the ashes of the deceased in nature, in the garden of your crematorium or on private property.
However, since the adoption of the Sueur law in 2008, it is formally forbidden to keep an urn in a private dwelling. This is for reasons of hygiene and human dignity.
What does French law say about cremation?
Cremation and burial are the two rites legally accepted in France.
However, to avoid breaches of health, environmental and human dignity regulations, the law lays down a strict framework for funeral practices.
In fact, cremation must take place within 6 days of death, excluding public holidays and Sundays.
The body must also be cremated in a coffin. To verify this fundamental condition and the identity of the body, the police are dispatched to the cremation site.
Finally, crematoria are the only establishments authorized to carry out cremation.
