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Cremation Urns, Ash Caskets and Scatter Tubes

History and Significance of Cremation Urns

A cremation urn is basically meant to hold the cremated remains or ashes received after cremating a dead body. During cremation, the human body is reduced to almost 3-7 pounds, depending on the size and weight of the individual. It is interesting to note that although we generally refer to cremains as ashes, the body does not actually turn into ash after incineration; it reduces into minute particles and pieces of bones that are further ground to get powdery consistency.

Anyway, coming back to urns, they are particularly used in cultures that recommend the process of cremation for disposing of the dead body. It is believed that this helps reduce the soul’s attachment to the body. Urns are also known as cremation urns, funeral urns, memorial urns, or cinerary urns. The tradition of using funeral urns for ashes was introduced by the Ancient Greeks. They were originally called lekythoi.

The vase-like containers were used to store oil used for anointing dead bodies. In addition, archeologists have excavated such urns from the Stone Age in caves of Europe and the North East. Thus, it is estimated that cremation began around 3000 BC. The term cremation comes from the Latin word ‘crematus’ which means ‘to burn up’.

According to the experts, findings of the decorative pottery urns in western Russia among the Slavic or Indo-European people suggest that the practice spread across the Europe towards the end of Stone Age. Next, it advanced further into the Northern Mediterranean regions. Urns from Bronze Age have found in Hungary and northern Italy. During the Mycenaean period, Greeks used to cremate dead soldiers, store the resultant ashes in urns or in ashes casket and used these urns in ceremonies to honor the heroes. With the passage of time, people started displaying urns containing cremated remains in columbarium niches. The tradition started during the Roman Empire, and it is still prevailing. In fact, cremation became so prevalent that around the mid 5th Century AD, an official decree against the cremation of the bodies within the city had to be issued.

However, as certain sects like the early Christians and Jews were against cremation, the practice of earth burial (except in instances of famine, pestilence, and war) became prominent almost since 400 AD. The Eastern Orthodox Churches, Orthodox Jews, and Muslims discourage cremation even in the present times. Nevertheless, the cremation movement again started over a century ago when Professor Brunetti of Italy introduced the first cremation chamber model at the Vienna Exposition in 1873. So, the movement started simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic.

Queen Victoria’s surgeon, Sir Henry Thompson, promoted the movement to avoid hazardous health conditions. In 1874, he founded the Cremation Society of England along with his colleagues. The first crematories were built in 1878 in Europe. In North America, the first crematory was built in 1876 in Pennsylvania. There were almost 52 crematories in the North by 1913. Thus, with the increasing rate of cremations, the demand for cremation or memorial urns is also increasing.

You can read up more about the history of cremation at the CANA (Cremation Association of North America) website.

People opt for elegant memorial urns not just for storing the cremated remains but also for showing their love and respect for the departed loved one.

These urns can be made of a variety of materials ranging from earthenware to metal and even glass.  People usually use urns for ashes, wooden caskets for ashes, or wooden urns for ashes in the UK. With the emergence of pet crematories, decorative urns for pets, too, have become popular.

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Choose From The Range Of Cremation Urns

Choose From The Range Of Ash Scattering Rocket

English Willow Coffin

The English Willow has been grown in England on the Somerset Levels for many centuries and has the ability to regenerate repeatedly from the same “crown” of the plant for up to 40 years. Willow colour variations are achieved naturally by drying, boiling or stripping the bark.

Bamboo Coffin

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, growing up to a metre per day. The Chinese have a saying that the only way to control its spread is to eat the shoots. Bamboo is also incredibly strong, with a tensile strength greater that that of steel. There is a 300 metre long suspension bridge in South China which hangs from bamboo cables fastened over a canyon; it does not have a single metal nail, screw or bolt in its construction.

Please Note: Panda bears do not eat the species of bamboo which are used to make our products.

Banana Coffin

The banana, believed to have originated from the jungles of Asia, is generally mistaken for a tree, but is actually the world’s largest herb. Their main stem can reach a height of up to 8 metres, though it is not actually formed of wood, but the tightly coiled leaves of the plant. Our banana coffins are made using these dried leaves after the tree has produced its fruit and the stem is cut back each year.

European Willow Coffin

Our European willow products are hand made to by a co-operative of cottage industries in Poland. The willow is a deciduous shrub found primarily on moist soil in cold and temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Almost all European willows take root very readily from cuttings or even where broken branches lie on the ground.

Fabric Coffin

These are UK Manufactured cardboard coffins covered with a decorated ‘Pall’ either Fragrant Root or Woven Banana Leaf. Both these options are hand made in fair trade facility in Indonesia. Gives a unique look and very good value.

Fabric Coffin

These are UK Manufactured cardboard coffins covered with a decorated ‘Pall’ either Fragrant Root or Woven Banana Leaf. Both these options are hand made in fair trade facility in Indonesia. Gives a unique look and very good value.

Buy a coffin with complete confidence with the Comparethecoffin.com price promise “If you find the same coffin or casket of the same quality for less we will refund the difference.”

Our pricing is completely clear with no hidden extras, VAT and delivery are included, we are usually able to deliver any coffin within 2 working days. Please contact us with any questions or for advice or

Telephone 0800 690 6513. Alternatively email any of your questions to info@comparethecoffin.com

After you receive the coffin – we will send an invoice and also ask you to complete a form providing feedback on the Service you received from ComparetheCoffin.com, the coffin itself and also feedback on the Funeral Director used (if any). It’s important to have this feedback to help others in the same position.

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