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Cremation rates in North America are skyrocketing. Before the 20th century, very few people were cremated; an act that was seriously frowned upon by the Church. Today rates of cremation are around 40% in the United States and 68% in Canada. These numbers are expected to rise to above 60% in the United States in the next 20 years. More and more people are opting for cremation, which means more people may consider scattering cremated remains. But what to do once you have possession of your loved one’s ashes?

People choose to cremate for many reasons and scattering cremated remains are just as personal. Ashes can be buried in cemeteries, kept in mausoleums, put in an urn and left in the home or scattered in various locations. Scattering cremated remains has grown in popularity over the past several decades, alongside a rise in popularity of the destination scattering. John loved Bermuda? Why not release him in the ocean? Alisha loved the Yankees? Spread her ashes inside Yankee Stadium. So whether it’s trenching, ocean scattering or being shot into space: here is everything you need to know about scattering cremated remains.

Scattering Cremated Remains: What You Need To Know 

Scattering Cremated Remains:

As Caitlin Doughty explains in this YouTube video, not all scatterings are legal or recommended. Some baseball fans, for example, have had their ashes spread or released by family members inside stadiums across the country. Not only is this not sanctioned by the MLB, it can be quite illegal since it is on private property. It also raises interesting questions of place and memory, when stadiums are later torn down. Likewise, a beach scattering may be legal or illegal depending on your location. A family soaking in the sun might not be pleased to discover themselves covered in the cremated remains of grandpa. Ocean scatterings must be legally done 3 miles off shore and in water at least 600 feet deep.

In the end, most States and Provinces follow a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy to scatterings. There are few strict laws regulating the practice but common sense and decency should prevail. For a detailed list of State and Federal cremation and scattering laws and practices look click here.

Flying:

Another aspect to consider is how to travel with your loved one’s ashes. Many airlines allow cremated remains onto a flight as carry-on, although you should always call and double check with your airline at least 7 days prior to travel. You may want to avoid checking in cremated remains on the off chance an airline loses your luggage.

  • You will want to make sure to arrive at the airport early to deal with security issues
  • Carry a death certificate with you
  • Carry ashes in an urn that can withstand turbulence
  • Make sure your urn is TSA safe and able to be viewed in an X-Ray machine. You will not be allowed onto the flight otherwise. Wood, glass or plastic should be fine
  • Many funeral homes sell travel urns for this purpose

If you would rather avoid the hassle of personally flying with cremated remains, you can always send them as cargo. The United States Postal service and Canada Post have special containers to carry ashes and follow special procedures. Call your local post-office to enquire and please make sure to provide the correct mailing address!

Visit the TSA website for more guidelines. The Cremation Association of North America has more handy tips on their website.

Scattering Cremated Remains

Photo by Bradly Boner via www.dogblog.ruffwear.net/

Traditional Scattering

Traditionally ashes are spread using two separate methods: trenching and raking. Trenching is the act of digging a hole, placing the cremated remains inside and covering it over with dirt. The cremated remains can be placed as is or put inside an urn. There are green-burial options today including biodegradable urns and urns that turn cremated remains into your loved one’s favorite tree. For beach scatterings, you can make a trench leading into the water, cover the cremated remains with sand and let the water wash them away. Raking is the act of scattering cremated remains in a garden, sand or plot of land and raking them to incorporate them into the ground. Please check ahead of time if you want to rake cremated remains in a public location, such as a park, as it may not be legal. Both options can be opportunities for various people to come together to participate and pay their final respects.

Alternative Scatterings

Scattering Cremated Remains

Want to get high after your death? Well lucky for you, whether its being shot into space, sent to the moon or released into the atmosphere, there are a few options available. For 1300$, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights will send cremated remains into space and back down to earth. For a more permanent trajectory, and 12,500$, they will land your loved one’s cremated remains on the moon or send them off into deep, deep space. Elysium is another company offering to send your ashes to the moon. They launch their missions alongside bigger missions from NASA and other space agencies. Prefer to keep cremated remains on earth? Heavenly Star Fireworks will pack cremated remains into a special container and launch them as roman candle fireworks! Finally, Mesoloft‘s unique offering carries ashes in their speciality balloons and releases them in the outer atmosphere, allowing  cremated remains to be carried by the wind and turned into nourishing water molecules.

Scattering Cremated Remains

If scattering cremated remains is not for you, LifeGem may have a solution. LifeGem are a diamond company that create lasting memorials using your loved one’s cremated remains. Their machines turn the carbon in ashes into wearable jewelry. One final memorial option is brought to you by Eternal Reefs, a company which will turn cremated remains into a living ocean reef. Their reef balls remain fixed to the ocean floor and become vital habitat for marine life.

Remember, there is nothing wrong with storing ashes at home. Alongside our societies desire to overcome grief as quickly as possible, the storing of ashes for long periods of time is often looked down upon. Never feel like you MUST do something with the ashes. Some people may also prefer to scatter only a portion of their loved one’s cremated remains. If this seems more appropriate to you, Tré Miller Rodríguez on modernloss.com writes that the best way to scatter ashes in small amounts is to use both a friend and a Ziplock bag:

 The reality of what you are doing may trigger strong emotions, so it’s smart to have a pal who can either take over the transfer or support you through the process. 

More than moral support, a friend will help you avoid any mishaps and spilled ashes.

If you are unsure about your cremation options and scattering ashes, remember that your local funeral home or cemetery may have all the answers for you. Likewise, feel free to call your local city officials if scattering on public land.

For more memorialization options beyond scattering cremated remains, including strange death rituals, you can look at our list of the Top 10 New Funeral Trends & Funeral Traditions Around the World.

16 Comments

  1. I visited my uncle this past summer and he told me about a few details that he put into his will. Basically, when he dies he wants to have a cremation service and then to have his ashes placed in an eternal reef. He is Buddhist and so it is a very special meaning to him. We all scuba dive in the family and so that is something that he wants to share with us.

    1. Thank you for sharing with us! Do you think you and your family making scuba trips to visit the reef when he passes away?

  2. […] services that have been offered since the early 20th century. On a side note, it is important to educate yourself on these different methods of disposal so that you can tell your family what you would […]

  3. Some airlines will let you have someone’s ashes in your carry-on. We will have to check into that to see which airlines allow that. My grandpa passed on recently and we were talking about having a service for him across the country for the cousins that weren’t there for the regular funeral. It would be nice if we could have grandma come with his ashes so we could have a scattering service here. http://www.corletolatinafuneralhome.com/

  4. I’ve never had any issues traveling with ashes on a plane but I always bring a copy of the death certificate just in case. I truly believe the best way to spread ashes around the planet is the ocean currents. It’s very crucial to know where and how they flow.
    http://www.oceanashes.com

    1. We hadn’t seen your service before. Your service is interested in that it is the ocean equivalent of our service. Scattering ashes via the winds in the upper atmosphere.

  5. With all the talk of NASA never landing on the moon but for $12,500 they will send cremated remains there?

  6. It’s interesting that we call the cremains ashes…. people think that their remains can ‘nourish’ a tree or other life… such is not the case the remains are quite inert and you can not become a tree… the tree will serve as a marker for where the remains are buried… I think this is a very common misconceptions about ‘ashes’,

  7. Ha! Really puts things into perspective

  8. That is a very good point Marie-France! With tree options growing more popular, it is important that people are properly informed.

  9. […] and a marker. It is important to note that provinces and states may have varying laws regarding the spreading of ashes. In Quebec for example, it is illegal to spread ashes anywhere other than designated cemetery […]

  10. […] America, it is generally illegal to bury cremated remains anywhere outside of a cemetery. However, cremated remains can be scattered in several places. Scattering and burying (interring) are treated differently. It is best to check […]

  11. […] full body burial at sea may not be available to just anyone (legally, that is), scattering ashes can be a different story. While most states and provinces will have laws related to scattering, […]

  12. Thanks for the tip that families should avoid scattering a person’s remains on a beach and should be legally done three miles offshore and in water at least 600 feet deep. Aside from these, one should also ask a local service to cremate the body safely before scattering. Doing this will help a person get their remains in their choice of a jar that can also fit into the family’s budget.

  13. It’s interesting to know that scattering ashes at the ocean must be done 3 miles offshore and in waters at least 600 feet deep. My father is pre-planning his funeral and decide to be cremated and get his ashes scattered at sea. I will let him know about your recommendations to fulfill his wishes without getting into trouble.

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