The “Life and Death” trade fair took place for the eighth time and set a new visitor record with 4,336 visitors – 510 more than last year. In mid-May, visitors to Messe Bremen were given a wide range of insights into the topics of life and death. The trends that could be discovered there are also of interest to stonemasons. The Life and Death trade fair […]
The “Life and Death“trade fair took place for the eighth time and set a new visitor record with 4,336 visitors – 510 more than last year. In mid-May, visitors to Messe Bremen were given a wide range of insights into the topics of life and death. The trends that could be discovered there are also of interest to stonemasons.
The annual trade fair deals with the areas of life, dying, mourning and farewell. 70 speakers informed the participants about these topics in a variety of lectures and workshops and a total of 128 dealers, manufacturers, artists, clubs and associations presented their products, services and information. Among other things, the focus was on prevention, care, support, saying goodbye, mourning and dying with dignity.
The trade fair is aimed not only at the target groups of full-time and voluntary workers in hospice and geriatric care, funeral services and pastoral care in cemeteries, but also at all other interested parties and people who are affected by these topics in general. The aim is to create a forum in which people can exchange ideas and ask questions openly and in a harmonious atmosphere.
At the LIFE AND DEATH trade fair, it was clear that the funeral culture is changing. Burial in a coffin is being replaced by cremation, which is becoming increasingly widespread. As a result, gravestones are also increasingly changing. There is an increasing demand for “offers that include grave care or do without it altogether”, explains Alexander Helbach from Aeternitas e.V. For example, “various forms of gardened communal gravesites, such as memorial gardens, columbaria, tree burials (in forests, but also in cemeteries) or burials at sea” are becoming more and more interesting for relatives.
This is also confirmed by Oliver Wirthmann, Managing Director of the Kuratorium Deutsche Bestattungskultur e. V. “So-called maintenance-free or low-maintenance grave arrangements are increasingly preferred. Grave maintenance is carried out jointly by a provider. This is a particular advantage for people who live far away but want to find a well-kept place.” The grave no longer represents social status, as was the case many years ago. Other aspects such as mobility, costs and, above all, individuality are increasingly taking center stage. “However, it is important to remember that graves are an overall artistic arrangement designed by stonemasons and that individual design is not possible,” adds Wirthmann.
Memorial diamonds
New options for personal and individual farewells are appearing more and more frequently. At LEBEN UND TOD, for example, memorial diamonds created from the partial ashes of the deceased were presented – a form that does not require a gravestone and fulfills the desire for individuality.
However, Wirthmann takes a critical view of this unusual and extravagant form of burial. “You should be careful with regard to psychological mourning,” he says. “The job of a funeral director is to accompany people and not to do everything the customer wants, but also to point out the consequences. And this option could be problematic. Because with memorial diamonds, a remnant of the ashes remains and makes it unclear in terms of grief psychology where the deceased ultimately is,” notes Wirthmann. Helbach also explains that unusual variants, such as commemorative diamonds, will continue to be an absolute exception.
The future of the conventional gravestone
Mobility, individuality and cremation. These aspects are becoming increasingly important in funeral culture. This raises the question: does the conventional gravestone still have a future? – “Definitely, yes,” answers Oliver Wirthmann. Even if the funeral culture is changing, particularly as a result of cremation, new alternatives are being offered. “The culture of gravestones has developed over many years. Its culture began where people started erecting stones,” explains Wirthmann. “The type and design of gravestones will change, but gravestones will always exist. They are a basic part of human culture and a sign against death,” adds Wirthmann.
Helbach is also convinced of this: “The conventional gravestone, which has shaped the appearance of many cemeteries for decades, will certainly not disappear completely.” However, it is important to respond to customer needs and wishes. Helbach sees opportunities for simple but appealing and individually designed gravestones, especially in communal burial grounds. Wirthmann is convinced by cremation, as it offers numerous options for subsequent burial. “However, if headstones are to remain attractive, people need to be made aware of the alternatives,” emphasizes Wirthmann.
It doesn’t always have to be the large headstone from the well-known mass-produced range. Small and individual gravestones or grave markers made of stone are possible. Furthermore, it is essential that “uniform rules apply in cemeteries and specifications are made so that ‘no colorful patchwork’ is created. At the same time, the density and breadth of regulations should be kept simple,” says Wirthmann, so that individual customer wishes can be taken into account and a certain amount of design freedom can be offered.
The next Life and Death will take place on May 4 and 5, 2018.
