The earliest evidence of cremation was found in Australia in 1969, with remains showing signs of elaborate burial rituals dating back nearly 20,000 years. Throughout history, various animals and humans have engaged in burial rituals after death, such as elephants and chimpanzees covering corpses with leaves and branches. Today, funeral flowers costing around £150 on average are commonly placed on graves in line with Roman traditions of creating a comforting environment for the deceased's spirit. A survey found that 54% of respondents would prefer a personalized celebration of life over a traditional church funeral with hymns (27%), with preferences varying by age. "Professional mourners" can also be hired in the UK for around £45 per hour to add solemn

1. THE MOST ANCIENT EVIDENCE OF CREMATION
WAS FOUND IN AUSTRALIA IN 1969
THE REMAINS BORE THE SIGNS
OF ELABORATE BURIAL RITUALS
AND ARE ESTIMATED
TO BE NEARLY 20,000 YEARS OLD
US HUMANS AREN’T THE ONLY ONES WHO BURY
OUR LOVED ONES WHEN THEY PASS AWAY.
ELEPHANTS AND CHIMPANZEES BURY THEIR DEAD
BY THROWING LEAVES AND BRANCHES ON THEM
£150 IS THE AVERAGE COST
FOR FUNERAL FLOWERS
FLOWERS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE GRAVES
OF LOVED ONE SINCE THE ROMAN TIMES.
IT’S THOUGHT THE PEOPLE OF ANCIENT ROME
WANTED TO CREATE A COMFORTING ENVIRONMENT
FOR THE DECEASED’S SPIRIT TO SIT
54% OF RESPONDENTS WOULD PREFER THEIR FUNERAL
TO BE A PERSONALIZED CELEBRATION OF THEIR
LIFE, WITH JUST 27% OPTING FOR A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL
SUCH AS A CHURCH SERVICE WITH HYMNS. THE
LATTER FIGURE RANGED FROM 20% IN THE CASE OF THE
18-24S TO 40% OF THE OVER-65S.
54%
27%
FOR AROUND £45 AN HOUR,
THERE’S A UK COMPANY THAT HIRES
OUT ‘PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS’
THE MOURNERS-FOR-HIRE ARE PAID TO ADD TO THE
SAD ATMOSPHERE AND ARE BRIEFED ON THE DECEASED,
SO THEY CAN SPEAK TO FAMILY MEMBERS
AS IF THEY WERE FRIENDS
THE WORD COFFIN IS DERIVED
FROM THE GREEK WORD KOPHINOS,
MEANING “BASKET”
ONLY ONE IN TWO BILLION
PEOPLE WILL LIVE
TO 116 OR OLDER
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF A
DECEASED LOVED ONE IS A TOUGH PROCESS
THERE’S PLENTY TO ARRANGE AND ORGANISE,
FROM FLOWERS, CREMATIONS,
BURIALS AND OBITUARIES.
BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY
KNOW ABOUT FUNERALS?
HERE’S SOME INTERESTING FACTS
THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD:
WWW.ISCAFUNERALS.CO.UK