Cremation or Traditional Burial – Pros and Cons

Cremation or Traditional Burial – Pros and Cons

The decision on the form of burial is a deeply personal matter, and it is difficult to provide any definitive advice on the subject. The choice may be based on a written declaration of the deceased’s last wishes or on the will and knowledge of the closest relatives organizing the funeral.

What are the legal requirements for cremation and traditional burial?

The legal regulations concerning cremation and traditional burial are outlined in the Act of January 31, 1959, on Cemeteries and Burial of the Deceased. To carry out a cremation, written permission from a family member is required, or a last will document in which the deceased specifies burial arrangements. In cases where remains are cremated after exhumation, an additional permit from the district sanitary and epidemiological station is required.

Is cremation in accordance with the principles of the Catholic faith?

The Catholic Church has allowed cremation since 1963 and, since 2016, has accepted funeral Masses in the presence of an urn with ashes. However, the Church does not permit the storage of an urn in any location other than a consecrated cemetery, nor the creation of keepsakes or jewelry from the ashes. Scattering ashes over water or in the forest is also not allowed — both by the Church and under Polish law.
Despite the Church’s evolving stance on cremation, many deeply religious individuals still prefer traditional burial.
Farewells at the funeral home, as well as the funeral Mass, can take place in the presence of either a coffin or an urn with ashes.

What are the pros and cons of cremation?

Pros:
– Lower burial plot costs — the urn can be placed in a columbarium or an existing family grave.
– Due to limited cemetery space, especially in large urban areas, cremation improves accessibility to memorial spaces for relatives.
– More environmentally friendly — it doesn’t pollute groundwater and doesn’t require a coffin made from expensive wood.
– Easier formal process for transporting ashes compared to transporting a body in a coffin, especially if death occurred far from the place of burial.

Cremation performed as part of Bongo’s comprehensive funeral services is carried out with the highest respect for the dignity of the deceased, just like traditional burial. In the event of death abroad, cremation can be considered either in the country where death occurred or after transporting the body to Poland. Bongo cooperates with crematoria in Łódź and Kraków.

Cons:
– Historical and religious associations may evoke negative feelings.
– Some may find it emotionally harder to grieve or feel cremation doesn’t allow for a “proper” farewell with the deceased.
– It may cause greater psychological burden for some, due to the perceived lack of due reverence.

What are the pros and cons of traditional burial?

Pros:
– Aligns with customs, especially among the older generation.
– For some, it facilitates the grieving process and maintaining memory of the deceased.

Cons:
– Higher burial plot costs.
– Less environmentally friendly, especially if the body is embalmed and buried in a lacquered coffin with plastic components.

If you have doubts or questions regarding the choice of burial method, it is best to contact Bongo International Funeral Services, where a representative will provide detailed information.