urna.jpg

Necroexpo. Cremation in Poland - facts and figures; we still lag behind Europe

20 january 2021
Poles still find it hard to adopt the idea of cadaver cremation; rarely do we opt for it. Although 2020 was a breakthrough tie in this respect. The relatives of the deceased who had suffered from CIVID-19 often had no other option but to make use of cremation

Polish organisations which associate funeral homes estimate that there was between 30 and 40 per cent percentage of cremations in the total number of burial ceremonies in 2020 was. For comparison, in Asian countries, 80 to over 90 per cent of cadavers are incinerated for burial.  Japan is the record-breaking country in this respect with its over 99 per cent, Australia - 69 per cent, and in Canada - 73 per cent. In Europe, the fewest cremations are carried out in Latvia (15%), Bulgaria (5%), Serbia (20%), Ireland (23) and Italy (24%).  The Czech Republic is one of Europe's record-holders with its 79 per cent cremation rate.

However, as experts point out, the traditional burial may soon be challenged;  traditional cemeteries are short of new locations. Establishing new necropolises is a real problem. Poles do not want to see graveyards located in close proximity to cities. Additionally, a traditional funeral is becoming more and more expensive.                                 

Why Poles do not want to use cremation?  There is still little availability of cremation facilities in Poland, which reduces general public awareness. There are about 70 cremation facilities in Poland so that cadavers need to be transported dozens of kilometres, and Poles are also afraid that there might be a mistake while ashes are handled.  That is why some factories have developed the practice of placing a plate with a special number inside the coffin. Such a plague does not melt at high temperatures.

However, the ceremony itself seems the most important aspect;  according to the Catholic funeral rite celebrated the most frequently in Poland, the mass must take place over the deceased's body. Only then is the coffin transported to the cremation facility,  where the family can observe the cremation process and then hand it over to the funeral director. After that, the second part of the funeral ceremony and burial take place.

The exhibitors at Necroexpo also see the need to change traditions,  urns and cremation-related artefacts are put on display during the event.

MBr (based on money.pl)

Recommended articles
18 november 2022
27 and 28 May 2023 in Targi Kielce marks the first nationwide funeral industry forum
04 june 2022
We are all young and healthy, and thus we don't have to think about death and, obviously about our own funeral. Or should we? A meeting with Małgorzata Węglarz, author of the book "Everything You Should Know Before You Die - The funeral industry's secrets" was the place to seek the answer to this question.
04 june 2022
Agnieszka Beczek works in a funeral home in Warsaw, but she is known on Instagram as the Lady of the Funeral Home, tens of thousands of people visit her account every day. Visitors look for advice and support, but above all, for information related to the funeral industry.
04 june 2022
There was a great interest in the training on "Cold corpse turned into pure beauty forever", conducted by Jacek Szymański from the Pathomed Funeral Training Department during the NECROEXPO in Kielce. The purpose of make-up and similar is to see the deceased person in a positive light when offering them a farewell.
03 june 2022
This was the title of another meeting and presentation by Dariusz Dutkiewicz, director of the Institute of the Funeral and Cemetery Industry.
03 june 2022
The image of immense divisions in the funeral industry across the country is a great burden. This issue was discussed during the lecture held under the banner of Quo Vadis funeral industry - new challenges. The "Together or apart" session was held during the NECROEXPO in Kielce.
03 june 2022
The digitization of memorial sites and the electronic death certificate - are some of the changes to be introduced next year, along with the new law on cemeteries and the burial. The Plenipotentiary of the Prime Minister, Wojciech Labuda, announced the full list of changes during the NECROEXPO held in Targi Kielce. There are amendments in the pipeline, including an item helping to classify the causes of death, designed to significantly improve the work of important security institutions.
03 june 2022
Exhibitors from the funeral industry, and members of the Consortium of Funeral Exhibitors, created a special zone during the NECROEXPO in Kielce, where they talk and host clients. They have collaborated attained common goals of co-organising the only funeral exhibition in Poland.