Cremation Urns

The topic of cremation urns seldom comes up in advance of a time of need. If you are planning ahead by reading this, then you are alleviating one of the stresses surrounding the most difficult times in the lives of most people. Sometimes the individual, for whom the urn will be (or is) required, has even outlived acquaintances and friends; yet someone still has the responsibility, and perhaps the burden, of making final arrangements.

Most likely to occur is the situation of needing to choose a cremation urn without previously having thought about it at all. This generally means that the surviving family or friend is also in great emotional distress. Even though cremation is a less expensive alternative to ground burial, it is still a time when too much money may be spent, for fear of looking too frugal.

In cities with large populations, cremation is not performed as quickly as a ground burial. This is partly due to an insufficient number of facilities being available. In some cases, the waiting time is two weeks from the time an individual passes away. While this gives those in mourning more time to make a decision about scattering or storage of the ashes or cremains, the emotional pain of doing so tends to be drawn out, also.

Cremation Urns and Their Unique Design

An urn has traditionally been described as a vase, often on a pedestal. It also has a removable or hinged lid and may have a spigot, such as a coffee urn has, for pouring hot liquids. Urns have stored many things over the centuries, including oil, or cornmeal, as well as funeral ashes.

When researching cremation urns, or looking through a catalog at a funeral home, a bereaved person may notice that what is being referred to as an urn looks instead more like a box. It's often a very fine box, but it's still a box, or a wooden case. In some instances, it may seem to be a miniature casket, which in effect, it can be. Tradition in the funeral industry still refers to such boxes as urns.

Cremation urns may be very plain and elegant, constructed of brushed brass or hardwood. They may bear a simple design of laurel leaves or a laurel branch. Laurel traditionally represents rejoicing and victory, and ultimately, peace. On the other hand, the urn may be intricately carved with angels, or intertwining floral patterns.

Cremation Urns in Different Materials

Roman, Greek and other ancient urns often reflected the potter's art. They may have been plain or ornate, depending on the financial resources of the family requesting them. Roman urns tended to have relief carvings around the outside, while Greek urns had scenes that were painted on them.

Brass and stone urns, such as sandstone and marble, were also used for many everyday storage needs in older civilizations. They still are available today. Families looking for a wooden urn will have a choice among hardwoods of birch, cherry, oak or the tree known as white ash. Maple and walnut are also used, as are durable resins. Not to be overlooked are biodegradable urns, made of paper, with holes in the bottom. They are very appropriate for consigning ashes to the ocean.