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Cremation of burial: which is the best option and why?

31 May 2024

Cremation or burial? This is a difficult decision that families face when a loved one passes away. It is not an easy decision to make when you are pre-planning your own funeral either. Here at Áltima, we help you choose the best option at the appropriate time.

The cremation process

Cremation involves the incineration of our deceased loved one. It is a process that usually lasts about three hours. Then the ashes are placed in an urn. What happens afterwards? Families can keep them in a cemetery, scatter them as per relevant environmental regulations, or keep them in some other form. For example, they can be divided among family members or even made into jewellery.

When it comes to choosing between cremation or burial, more and more families are turning to cremation for both economic and practical reasons.

Advantages and disadvantages of cremation

Before choosing this option when a loved one passes away, it is necessary to know the advantages and disadvantages of the cremation process in order to make a balanced decision. Some of the advantages of cremation include:

The cost is lower than a burial as fewer funeral services are involved.
Less space is needed to store ashes.
The process is faster and more convenient, especially if the ashes are being transferred to another destination afterwards.
Maintenance costs are lower than those of a traditional burial.
Families can keep the ashes if they wish to do so.
Cremation is accepted by most religions.

When compared to a burial, cremation also has some disadvantages:

You are obliged to choose what to do with the ashes, as there are a number of options available. With burial there is only one option and this takes place in the cemetery.
Which option is more environmentally friendly, cremation or burial? It is not entirely certain, but the most widely held view is that cremation produces gases that are harmful to the environment. However, greater progress is being made to make this process as clean as possible.
If you choose to scatter the ashes, family and friends will not have a physical place to come to where they can remember their loved one.

Lower cost and greater flexibility

As mentioned, if we compare the advantages and disadvantages between cremation and burial, the first option would usually be favoured from an economic and practical perspective.

On the one hand, cremation is cheaper than a burial, as it involves fewer added costs both in terms of immediate funeral services and subsequent maintenance.

In addition, the cremation of a loved one means greater flexibility. For example, there is a greater choice when it comes to choosing the destination of the ashes, it is easier to transfer them when the relatives live in a different place, and it allows greater freedom in terms of the choice of ceremony and farewell rites.

The burial process

Burial is still the predominant choice among families when a loved one passes away. The main reason for this is tradition. Another key factor is that with the burial option there is a physical place in which you can come to remember the deceased.

The cultural and religious aspect plays an important role in the choice of burial today. For those looking for a more environmentally friendly funeral, it is also considered a more natural choice.

The burial process involves a greater need for additional funeral services and is therefore more complex.

Advantages and disadvantages of a burial

Which is better, a burial or cremation? To make this decision, the benefits and drawbacks of a burial must also be considered. Let's start with the advantages:

Cultural and religious traditions are maintained.
The natural process of decomposition after death is respected.
With a few exceptions, it is compatible with the vast majority of religions.
There is a physical space in which to remember our loved one. According to experts, this is of great importance when coping with the mourning process. In addition, it makes it possible for family members who do not live in the same area to have a place to come when they want to remember their loved one or simply to leave flowers.
Although burials are generally held in public cemeteries, they can also be done in private cemeteries if the family prefers.
There are increasingly more sustainable options available that allow burials to be more environmentally friendly.

We must also consider the disadvantages of a burial over cremation:

It is a more expensive option, since it involves more associated funeral services, together with higher subsequent conservation and maintenance costs.
Having a fixed burial site makes it difficult for family members who live far away to visit the grave of their loved one whenever they wish.
For a burial in Spain, only authorised cemeteries can be chosen. This requires a series of administrative procedures to be completed and certain obligatory expenses to be assumed.
It has an impact on the environment since natural decomposition after death can last 15-20 years, or even longer if we take into account the coffin, clothing, varnishes and other products that may have been used.

Preserving family traditions

When choosing between cremation or burial, the second option weighs more heavily among families with cultural and religious roots, as they are more likely to want to preserve traditions.

Choosing the burial option has emotional undertones in the sense that it presents the opportunity to visit the burial place of your loved one whenever you wish to do so.

When it comes to making a decision on cremation or burial, all the factors associated with both processes should be considered very carefully before deciding what is the best option for your loved one and your family.