Death and Funeral Practices in Poland (Routledge International Focus on Death and Funeral Practices)

This book provides a shortform definitive reference text on funerary practice in Poland. An overview of the important features of the Polish funeral law, funerals, cremations, cemeteries, and funeral industry, the book also covers the demographic characteristic of mortality in Poland. Drawing on original empirical research, the book is interdisciplinary, which facilitates further transnational comparative research on this important topic. It is the first book to offer a broad look at the evolution and current status of Polish funerary practices. It provides an essential summary to researchers with an interest in funeral practices in Poland. Some of the areas explored are the country’s historical development, the contemporary legal framework and how Poland manages its cemeteries, crematoria and other death spaces. Built on original ethnographic research conducted by the authors, this book interprets the predominance of Catholic funerals, examines the relatively recent history of cremation, and contextualizes the practices of commemoration and memoralisation. This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to academics, policymakers and practitioners interested in the historic, geographic, demographic, (multi)cultural and political context in which the funerary practices in Poland have developed, as well as the technical and professional aspects of the industry. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Tables Abbreviations Contributors Acknowledgments 1. Poland: Introduction References 2. History Funerary Culture in Poland: Slavic and Christian Traditions Chronology of Major Legislation History of the Funeral Industry History of Cremation in Poland Historic Development of Cemeteries Notes References 3. Mortality General Characteristics of Mortality in Poland The Number of Deaths Age Structure of the Deceased The Marital Status of the Deceased Places of Death Causes of Death Spatial Differentiation of the Mortality Rate Notes References 4. Legal Framework of Funerals and Cemeteries Law and Regulations Concerning Funerary Activity Registering Death Body Transportation and Repatriation Legal Framework and Practice of Burial and Exhumation Coroner: A New Vision of Confirming, Documenting, and Registering Death Procedure for Dealing with Corpses Not Buried by Entitled Persons Burial Space Regulations Limitations on Type and Size of Memorial Cemeteries and Burials of the Deceased Act, 1959 Determining Which Areas in Terms of Sanitation Are Suitable for Cemeteries Regulation, 1959 Establishment, Enlargement, and Design of Cemeteries Notes References 5. Governance Local Government Structure Public Enterprises Private Companies Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Professional Funeral Organizations References 6. Religious Beliefs and Funerary Practices of the Churches The Catholic Church The Orthodox Church The Protestant Churches Judaism Other Faith Groups References 7. The Funeral Industry A General Characterization of Funeral Parlors in Poland Modern Funeral Establishment Presence in the Public Space Necro-Business References 8. The Funeral General Characteristics The Principal Components of a Funeral After Death Funeral Arrangements Artifacts Humanizing the Corpse Viewing the Deceased The Traditional Funeral Ceremony At the Cemetery Funeral Meal Polish Savoir Vivre at Funerals Differences Between the Village and the City Economic Differences Humanistic Ceremony Beyond the Framework of Tradition New Technologies Funerals of Motorcyclists Funerals and Cemeteries of Animals Notes References 9. Funeral Costs The Costs of Funeral Services Average Prices The Funeral Benefit Social Funerals Cemetery Costs References 10. Cemeteries, Burial Sites, and Graves Current State of Cemeteries Municipal Cemeteries Religious Cemeteries War Cemeteries Grave Arrangement 'Monumental Mason' Industry References 11. Cremation The Proportion of Deaths Followed by Cremation Scenarios of Ceremonies Held in Crematoria The Disposition of Ashes Crematoria Design Notes References 12. Commemoration and Memoralisation All Souls' Day and Visits to the Graves Decoration and Maintaining the Grave Memorials in Public Spaces War and Holocaust Commemoration Virtual Commemoration Pro-Ecological Practices Notes References 13. Protecting Funerary Heritage References Index