Routledge International Focus on Death and Funeral Practices – Serie

Built on original ethnographic research conducted by the author, this book offers a highly detailed and comprehensive account of funerary history and practices in Russia. Death and Funeral Practices in Russia provides rich data on mortality statistics, trends in the funeral market in contemporary Russia, the legal framework of funerary practices, as well as regional and demographic disparities.The first part of the book presents an in-depth account of the historical development of funerary practice in Russia, charting the emergence and evolution of funeral traditions and customs in the country from the Russian Empire to the collapse of the USSR. Having explored the wider historical context surrounding funerary culture in Russia, the second part of the book explores the key features of the funeral industry in post-Soviet times, highlighting critical changes and areas of continuity. Topics explored include the death care industry in Russia, the key features of the typical funeral in the country, cemetery and crematorium provision, the technicalities and legalities of burial and cremation, and the illegal practices within the funeral market.A truly unique offering, the book is essential reading for academics, policy makers and practitioners interested in the history and legal, technical and professional aspects of the funerary industry in Russia.

Built on original ethnographic research conducted by the author, this book offers a highly detailed and comprehensive account of funerary history and practices in Russia. Death and Funeral Practices in Russia provides rich data on mortality statistics, trends in the funeral market in contemporary Russia, the legal framework of funerary practices, as well as regional and demographic disparities.The first part of the book presents an in-depth account of the historical development of funerary practice in Russia, charting the emergence and evolution of funeral traditions and customs in the country from the Russian Empire to the collapse of the USSR. Having explored the wider historical context surrounding funerary culture in Russia, the second part of the book explores the key features of the funeral industry in post-Soviet times, highlighting critical changes and areas of continuity. Topics explored include the death care industry in Russia, the key features of the typical funeral in the country, cemetery and crematorium provision, the technicalities and legalities of burial and cremation, and the illegal practices within the funeral market.A truly unique offering, the book is essential reading for academics, policy makers and practitioners interested in the history and legal, technical and professional aspects of the funerary industry in Russia.

Academic studies on death and cemeteries are relatively recent in Portugal; those that do exist tend to adopt an essentially historical and artistic point of view. Studies on the practicalities of managing the dead and their spaces are even more recent, and they do not yet form a cohesive body of work.Combining both approaches, Death and Funeral Practices in Portugal is the first book to offer a broad look at the evolution and current status of Portuguese funerary practice. By exploring the country’s historical development, examining the contemporary legal framework, and systematizing the way Portugal manages its cemeteries, crematoria, and other death spaces, this book aims to provide an essential reference to researchers with an interest in Portuguese funeral practice. Among other themes, this book interprets the predominance of Catholic funerals, examines the relatively recent history of cremation, and contextualizes the practices of exhumation and grave re-use, which are integral to the normal functioning of a Portuguese cemetery.This is the first book on Portuguese death and dying written specifically for a non-Portuguese audience. It will be of interest to researchers and scholars but also accessible to students and non-specialist readers first coming into the subject.

Academic studies on death and cemeteries are relatively recent in Portugal; those that do exist tend to adopt an essentially historical and artistic point of view. Studies on the practicalities of managing the dead and their spaces are even more recent, and they do not yet form a cohesive body of work.Combining both approaches, Death and Funeral Practices in Portugal is the first book to offer a broad look at the evolution and current status of Portuguese funerary practice. By exploring the country’s historical development, examining the contemporary legal framework, and systematizing the way Portugal manages its cemeteries, crematoria, and other death spaces, this book aims to provide an essential reference to researchers with an interest in Portuguese funeral practice. Among other themes, this book interprets the predominance of Catholic funerals, examines the relatively recent history of cremation, and contextualizes the practices of exhumation and grave re-use, which are integral to the normal functioning of a Portuguese cemetery.This is the first book on Portuguese death and dying written specifically for a non-Portuguese audience. It will be of interest to researchers and scholars but also accessible to students and non-specialist readers first coming into the subject.

This book provides a shortform definitive reference text on the landscape and features of Aotearoa New Zealand that underpin its familiar, though country-specific, ways of caring for the dead. It provides an account of diverse funerary practices that have taken shape through the various cultures that have settled here.In the backdrop of the colonising history of Aotearoa New Zealand, the book examines the complex legislative framework that separates Māori and non-Māori funerary legislation and practices. Examining the mixed model of provision spanning municipal, commercial, and private organisations, the book outlines various aspects of funerals, such as the care of the body, funeral arrangements, costs, and what state support is available. It also delves into the two legal ways to manage the dead: burial or cremation, with cremation now the majority option. The book explores the numbers, ownership and locations of crematoria and cemeteries before identifying the new trends influencing death care including sustainability. It then looks at how death is memorialised in Aotearoa New Zealand, including in cemeteries, for war memorialisation, and other public commemoration and memorialisation.This book will be of interest to the growing body of local authority planners, researchers, and funeral professionals who must be responsive to and provide their services in complex multi-cultural contexts. As the scope of the book is historical and contemporary death practices, it will also appeal to social historians.

This book provides a shortform definitive reference text on the landscape and features of Aotearoa New Zealand that underpin its familiar, though country-specific, ways of caring for the dead. It provides an account of diverse funerary practices that have taken shape through the various cultures that have settled here.In the backdrop of the colonising history of Aotearoa New Zealand, the book examines the complex legislative framework that separates Māori and non-Māori funerary legislation and practices. Examining the mixed model of provision spanning municipal, commercial, and private organisations, the book outlines various aspects of funerals, such as the care of the body, funeral arrangements, costs, and what state support is available. It also delves into the two legal ways to manage the dead: burial or cremation, with cremation now the majority option. The book explores the numbers, ownership and locations of crematoria and cemeteries before identifying the new trends influencing death care including sustainability. It then looks at how death is memorialised in Aotearoa New Zealand, including in cemeteries, for war memorialisation, and other public commemoration and memorialisation.This book will be of interest to the growing body of local authority planners, researchers, and funeral professionals who must be responsive to and provide their services in complex multi-cultural contexts. As the scope of the book is historical and contemporary death practices, it will also appeal to social historians.

This book provides a shortform definitive reference text on funerary practice in Poland. An overview of the important features of the Polish funeral law, funerals, cremations, cemeteries, and funeral industry, the book also covers the demographic characteristic of mortality in Poland.Drawing on original empirical research, the book is interdisciplinary, which facilitates further transnational comparative research on this important topic. It is the first book to offer a broad look at the evolution and current status of Polish funerary practices. It provides an essential summary to researchers with an interest in funeral practices in Poland. Some of the areas explored are the country’s historical development, the contemporary legal framework and how Poland manages its cemeteries, crematoria and other death spaces. Built on original ethnographic research conducted by the authors, this book interprets the predominance of Catholic funerals, examines the relatively recent history of cremation, and contextualizes the practices of commemoration and memoralisation.This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to academics, policymakers and practitioners interested in the historic, geographic, demographic, (multi)cultural and political context in which the funerary practices in Poland have developed, as well as the technical and professional aspects of the industry.

This book provides a shortform definitive reference text on funerary practice in Poland. An overview of the important features of the Polish funeral law, funerals, cremations, cemeteries, and funeral industry, the book also covers the demographic characteristic of mortality in Poland.Drawing on original empirical research, the book is interdisciplinary, which facilitates further transnational comparative research on this important topic. It is the first book to offer a broad look at the evolution and current status of Polish funerary practices. It provides an essential summary to researchers with an interest in funeral practices in Poland. Some of the areas explored are the country’s historical development, the contemporary legal framework and how Poland manages its cemeteries, crematoria and other death spaces. Built on original ethnographic research conducted by the authors, this book interprets the predominance of Catholic funerals, examines the relatively recent history of cremation, and contextualizes the practices of commemoration and memoralisation.This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to academics, policymakers and practitioners interested in the historic, geographic, demographic, (multi)cultural and political context in which the funerary practices in Poland have developed, as well as the technical and professional aspects of the industry.

This book provides a shortform definitive reference text on death and funeral practices in Norway as of the 2020s.This volume begins with a short introduction and historical overview, followed by a description of the demographics and legal framework, before featuring a range of chapters on governance and the funeral industry. Both religious and non‑religious funeral practices are examined, and the three major funeral practices in Norway – funerals conducted by the Church of Norway, humanist funerals organised by The Norwegian Humanist Association, and open‑faith funerals – are described. The chapters cover a broad range of topics including typical funerals and cost breakdowns; the cemetery; various grave types including coffins, urns, named memorial gardens, and columbaria; and the practice of re‑using graves. In addition, a chapter devoted to cremation, the rise in its use, and current cremation technologies also examines the practice of ash scattering which has been legal in Norway since 1997. The masonry industry and public memorials are also discussed in a chapter on commemoration, and the last chapter, on funerary heritage, focuses on war cemeteries and epidemic cemeteries.This comprehensive volume will be valuable reading for scholars and reflective practitioners interested in death studies and the funeral industry, with particular interest in insights from Norway and their potential for informing wider research and practice.

This book provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the past, present, and future direction of death rituals and deathcare systems within Japan.As Japan heads toward a precarious future shaped by its super-ageing society, secularisation, and economic stagnation, the socioreligious structures that once organised death and funeral practice are becoming increasingly unstable. In their place, new social structures, technologies, and rituals for the farewell of the dead, handling of cremains, and commemoration of the ancestors have begun to emerge. The work is informed by the authors’ extensive research within Japan’s funeral, cemetery, and memorialisation sectors and the latest Japanese data sources and academic publications, many of which are not currently available in English.Providing readily accessible and contextualising information, this book will be an essential reference for graduate students and academics, as well as international policymakers and deathcare practitioners.