Garden Cremation Pedestals

Since ancient Roman times, cemeteries have been known as gardens, peaceful places of worship. These ancient memory gardens were often meticulously landscaped and adorned with sculptures and monuments. Apart from sanitary and other practical considerations, burial sites were often determined by religious and other social considerations. Religious rules may prescribe a specific zone, for example, some Christian traditions hold that Christians must be buried in "consecrated ground", usually a cemetery or burial in or very near the church. 

 

In North America, private family cemeteries were common among wealthy landowners during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many prominent people were even buried in private cemeteries -made to look like spectacular gardens - on their respective properties.

There are several common alternatives to whole-body burial. In cremation the body of the deceased is burned in a special cremation process. The fragments are then processed into a fine powder, which has led to the cremated remains being referred to as ashes. Cremation has become a very popular option in today's tough economic times.

There is far greater flexibility in dealing with the remains in cremation as opposed to the traditional burial. Some of the options include scattering the ashes at a place close to the heart of the deceased or keeping the ashes at home or in the cremation garden of a cemetery. One of the most unique "garden-like" ways to house ashes is in a Cremation Pedestal.

Various conditions in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century led to the burial of the dead in graveyards being discontinued. Completely new garden-like places of burial were established away from heavily populated areas and outside of old towns and city centers. Thus, cemeteries - in landscaped or garden form - became the principal place of burial.

More recent is the practice of families with large estates choosing to create private cemeteries in the form of burial sites. Burial of a body at a site may protect the location from redevelopment, with such estates often being placed in the care of a trust or foundation. Presently, state regulations have made it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to start private cemeteries; many require a plan to care for the site in perpetuity. Be sure to check with local ordinances if you plan to house cremated ashes in your pedestal at home.

There are so many different options for choosing a Cremation Pedestal. With so many subjects to choose from, sometimes it's hard to decide. One of the initial decisions you'll need to make is what type of pedestal you'll want. These range from simple cremation pedestals, cremation pedestals with vases, cremation birdbaths and cremation sundials.

Next, it's up to you to customize your cremation pedestal in the same way you would if it were a granite monument or headstone. You can personalize your granite cremation memorial with just about any subject matter too. Such as the cowboy boots and hat monument below.

Contact your granite monument builder for more information on choosing a granite cremation monument. The vast options that are available for today's cremation garden pedestals may just surprise you!