History of Cremation

For some ancient cultures cremations were a symbolization or representation of rebirthing the soul. Scholars have agreed that the cremation age most likely started around 3000 B.C. (known as the Late Stone Age and began to spread across northern Europe).  Later, it continued to spread in Northern Europe. 

With the introduction of the Bronze Age recorded in 2500 to 1000 B.C. cremation moved into the British Isles (known as Spain and Portugal). Cemeteries for cremation started to appear in Hungary and northern Italy.  The practice of cremations continued to spread to northern Europe and Ireland.

The Mycenaean Age (circa 1000 B.C.) cremation became an important ritual of the Grecian (a native/ naturalized inhabitant of Greece) burial custom and the main mode of disposition which was encouraged for reasons of health and expedient burial of slain warriors.

Cremation remained common, but not universal, in both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. According to Cicero, in Rome inhumation was considered the more archaic rite, while the most honored citizens were most typically cremated, especially upper classes and members of imperial families.

In the time of the Roman Empire (27 B.C. to 395 A.D.) cremations was commonly practiced, and cremated remains were usually stored in sophisticated urns, often within columbarium-like buildings which were built underground. Although cremations were a common practice among the Romans, it was frowned upon by Christianity and in the Jewish culture.  This was an attempt to abolish the Grecian-Roman pagan rituals and the practice of cremation basically disappeared from Europe.

By 400 A.D., cremations were replaced with ground burials (except for rare instances of plague or war).   This would continue for the next 1,500 years and remain the most accepted mode of disposition throughout Europe.

The Process of Cremation

Cremation is the act of reducing a corpse by burning, generally in a crematorium furnace or crematory fire.  Contrary to popular belief, the remains (often called cremains) are not "ashes" in the usual sense, but rather dried bone fragments which have been pulverized in a device called a cremulator.

 Cremation Services Provided

Please follow the following links for more information on the cremation services provided through The Major Funeral Home.

Direct Cremation click here

Cremation with Memorial Service  click here

Cremation with Funeral Rites click here

At this time we are also offering our internet special for direct cremation.  Please click here for details.  Be sure to mention our special at the time of the arrangement.  The internet special is for at need services only (special pricing for those over 300 lbs)