Publication details
Crisis of Czech funeral rites and a search for new green ways how to say goodbye
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| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Crisis of Czech funeral rites and searching for new green ways how to say goodbye Czech funerals are specific in European context especially with the practice of cremation without any public ceremony. Funeral professionals estimate about one third of czech funerals is made without any public ritual of farewell. The cremations without ceremony are accepted by Czech society from complex economic, psychologic and social reasons, one of them is an increasing critique of conventional funerals organized by funeral services. Czech funeral ceremonies are criticized as impersonal, highly formalized and not meeting psychological needs of deceased. This crisis of Czech funeral rituals leads into increasing demand for alternative ways of farewell and searching inspiration from abroad suitable for largely secular Czech society. My work is focused espacially on environmentally-friendly grieving practices – planting memorial trees, scattering ashes in nature, grief gardening and unique Czech practice – growing vegetable on graves. My research theme explores how the process of grieving is influenced by contact with natural environment. The research is based on primarily qualitative data collected through interviews with people, who chosed environmental friendly way of farewell. My work come out from both the academical and the practical background. I would like to share my own experience as a co-founder of the first natural burial ground in Czech republic and as an environmentally-friendly councelor for bereaved. Where theory meets practice is a frequent topic of my thinking. My practical work is nourished and framed by academic knowledges of the grief process and academic reflection of social landscapes of natural burial grounds mainly in Great Britain. |
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