Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. For some people, this is just a bit of poetry they’ve grown up with. For others, it’s a freeing concept that describes the cycle of life and how we can pass on after our death. While some people find the idea of cremation distasteful, others see the fire as cleansing, and the transformation of the body into ash as a solemn, beautiful ritual that provides more closure than burial. (Cremation is also undeniably more “green” than burial, as many caskets do not degrade).
One of the most attractive aspects of cremation for a lot of people are the many different options for ash containers. Ash containers vary in size, origin, and style, but they all serve to memorialize a loved one in an elegant and long-lasting way. Some popular choices for ash containers include:
1.Urns
Cremation urns for ashes have been around since ancient Roman times. These urns were incredibly elaborate and were often stored in specially carved niches indoors. They became part of the decor just like the loved one was part of the family. Today, the tradition of affordable cremation urns is still going strong. A burial urn bought today often comes with myriad customization options such as engraving, color, and material choice. Some providers even offer biodegradable cremation urns.
2.Pendants
Jewelry related to mourning has its origins in the 16th century, but the Victorian Age saw a large bump in its popularity. One of the most obvious benefits of pendants is you can keep your loved one’s remains close to you at all times. You can also split up the remains between pendants and therefore between loved ones.
3.Memorial Keepsakes
Although pendants are the most common, the keepsake possibilities for ash containers are endless. We’ve seen everything from other jewelry, poetry, engravings, angels, vases, and vials used to meaningfully memorialize someone’s passing and remains.
None of us can control the fact that we will leave this world, or even how we leave it a lot of the time. What we can choose is how our bodies are treated after we are gone, and how we are remembered. Take some time to think about this and put it in your Will if you have one. It will save your grieving loved ones one more heart-wrenching decision, and they will be comforted by the fact that they can carry out your final wishes with confidence.
