What is the History of Cremation?

 


Cremation goes way back to the Stone age. Even so, it has never been as popular as it is today. How was cremation perceived in the early days and why is it the end-of-life option for so many now? Perhaps, it will surprise you to know that in the Western world, the rise in popularity of cremation is a recent event. If you don’t know much about cremation, and want to learn more, here is a short recap of the history of cremation. 

Early Signs of Cremation

The history of cremation can be traced back to the Stone Age, which was in 3,000 B.C. In the East and in Europe. In the Bronze Age, starting from 2,500 to 1,000 B.C Cremations rose in number and spread to areas of Europe and Western Russia. When 1,000 B.C. rolled around, it had become normalized in most of present day Europe, going through Spain, Italy, and Greece. Around 500 B.C. cremations were limited in Rome by law because it had become too popular. 

Christian Times

While cremation was popular in orthodox Christian times, it was forbidden by Jewish and early christians. In truth, in Constantine’s Christianization of the Roman Empire around 400 AD, cremation got substituted by burial. In the time of plague and war cremation increased, however, cremation was not favored for about the next 1,500 years.

Modern Day Cremations

In 1873 cremation saw an increase in popularity after an Italian man perfected the use of a chamber that effectively cremated bodies. The Cremation Society of England was inaugurated in 1874. North American cremations got increasing customers when the first crematorium was built in Washington, in 1876. The shift to cremations was propelled forward by the Protestant Reformation, and the world’s concern with the environmental hazards of burials. The second American crematorium was started in 1886 in Lancaster, PA and it was initiated and run by a cremation society. By 1900, crematories rose to 20 and by 1913 increased to over fifty in number. By that time, cremations were increasing in popularity as the numbers went above 100,000 per year. By the year 2000, over fifteen hundred crematories had been set up in the United States alone. 

Cremations in the Twenty First Century

Today, especially since the Covid pandemic began, and the eco-friendly conscious began to look for options that lessen their carbon footprint, cremations have become the most popular type of final, end-of-life services. Partly this is because of the decreasing religious constraints, and partly because cremation is more affordable and flexible than traditional burial options in the USA. People are choosing it more now because it has a reputation for being a green, environmentally responsible way to dispose of a body.

If you want information about cremation services in California, please contact us at www.adirectcremation.com/contact-us and our compassionate and professional cremation staff will guide you about cremation packages we offer. We help address an urgent need or assist you in pre-planning end-of-life services. Serving you is an honor for us. 
Location: United States

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