类别：文化与宗教传统

How Pre-Arranging Honours Your Family and Eases Their Burden

Burial has been a practice for centuries. It’s the final step in a funeral – putting our loved ones in their final resting place. While burials have kept some rituals from the past, there are some oddities. Today is Halloween – a day where we see images of spooky cemeteries, with ghosts and witches and mummies, but sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. Strange Burial Practices from Way Back When: The safety coffin: Sometimes called a security coffin , this burial system was designed in the 18th and 19th centuries to prevent premature burial (aka being buried alive!). Yes! this was a legitimate fear back in the day, as medicine was not what it is today. Safety coffins featured an apparatus that allowed the buried, but not dead to alert nearby people. This was often a bell that could be rung from inside the coffin. Other styles were invented, but the bell system is the most well-known. Catacombs: In broad terms, catacombs are underground tombs – often associated with the Romans. However, many of you are probably familiar with the Paris catacombs, which have its own story. The Paris catacombs were created due to overcrowded cemeteries in the city. They hold the remains (skeletal remains) of over six million people! Due to the disorganization of other grave sites – which saw mass graves collapsing – many of the bones were unidentified. This is why the Paris Catacombs are organized with decorative walls using bones of various types to create patterns. Mummification: The ancient Egyptians had very specific rituals when it came to interring their dead. They believed if these steps weren’t followed it would hinder their chances of getting to the afterlife. Mummifying the body was a huge part of this. Bodies were wrapped in linen and sometimes plaster. Organs were removed before and placed in jars. There were other items placed around the body – part of the ritual. The mummified body was then placed in a sarcophagus or wooden coffin. There were often peace offerings and wall paintings and other ornamental features inside the tomb to ensure a safe passage to the afterlife. Today… Today’s practices are much different, but still unique. At Chapel Ridge Funeral Home, we offer funeral services for all different cultures and religions. We encourage families and loved ones to personalize their services. Contact us anytime to talk about prearrangements. Happy Halloween from all of us at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Centre in Markham.

Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday, which was May 24, 1819. And while the holiday celebrates the life of our second longest reigning monarch (Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her), one of the most often told stories about Queen Victoria is about how she mourned her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha died in late 1861 of typhoid fever. The Queen was so devastated by his death that she wore mourning clothes (black) for the rest of her life. She also shuttered herself in, avoiding London. She was known as “The Widow of Windsor.” On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria died at the age of 81 and was interred at Frogmore Mausoleum, Windsor. This means that she mourned Prince Albert for nearly 40 years. The Royal Family: Mourning and Burials beyond Queen Victoria While the story of The Widow of Windsor is intriguing, it’s not the only curious tale about the royal family’s traditions when it comes to death, burial and mourning. For instance, the current family must always travel with a black outfit in case a member of the family dies while they’re away. This started when Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, was away when her father, King George VI, passed away. Attendants had to bring her black clothing aboard the airplane after it landed so she could change and disembark in the proper attire. Then there is the discovery and reburial of the body of King Richard III . Richard III was the last English king to die in battle. After his death, his body was removed from the battlefield and crudely buried at Greyfriars Friary in Leicester. After the church was dissolved and demolished, the body was more or less forgotten. In 2012, a team found the spot where the church once stood and began excavating what was then a parking lot. Yes, a famous English king was discovered beneath a parking lot 500 years after his burial. He was reburied in Leicester Cathedral in 2015. Speaking of Richard III, the youngest English monarch to die was his predecessor Edward V. King Henry VIII You cannot talk about the English Monarchy and death and not mention King Henry VIII. King Henry VIII is most famous for his six wives. As many of us know, some of them had untimely and gristly endings. The six wives were: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catharine Parr. Some people remember their fate with this poem: Divorced, Beheaded, Died. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Other interesting fact about Henry VIII is that he was buried next to his 3rd wife – Jane Seymour. Why Jane? She died giving birth to a son – giving Henry what his previous two wives could not: a male heir. She also died before she could fall out of his favour. Did you learn anything new about the British Royal family? Do you still believe in wearing black to funerals, or is that old-fashioned? We at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Centre hope you enjoy your Victoria Day weekend. Celebrate the long and prolific reign of Queen Victoria!

Last Halloween, we talked about the Mexican tradition, Day of the Dead . This year we will look at the Celtic origin of the holiday and how this pagan tradition honoured the dead. Precursor to Halloween: Samhain & All Saints Day The Pagan festival of Samhain took place between October 31 and November 1, and landed between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. The costume aspect stems from Samhain, where people would put on disguises and visit neighbours asking for food. Where the honouring the dead aspect comes in is in the form of a feast. Pagans believed that the souls of dead relatives would return to their homes for food and shelter during Samhain, so they would leave empty chairs and a table setting for them. While today’s Halloween has all but lost the honouring dead relatives aspect, the costumes and community sharing continues. The November 1 Holiday of All Saints Day (aka All Hallows Day) merged with Samhain to create our modern Halloween. All Saints Day is fallowed by All Souls Day. These three two days, combined with All Hallows’ Eve, represented the Western churches belief that there is a strong connections between the living and the dead. All Hallows’ Eve While for many of us, Halloween is about Trick-or-Treating, wearing costumes, attending parties, and carving pumpkins, many did and still do treat it as the first day of a three-day Christian holiday. The tradition of lighting candles at the graves of deceased relatives continues for some devout observers. Some worshipers even abstain from eating meat on All Hallows’ Eve. While tonight was probably more about candy, costumes and jack-o-lanterns, we can learn something from the Irish Celts and early Christians, and think about our loved ones who have passed. If you’re thinking about celebrating the life of a loved one who has passed, or have been thinking about how you yourself would like to be honoured upon your death, talk to the kind and compassionate staff at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Centre in Markham. You don’t have to wait until Halloween to honour your loved ones. Contact us today.

While death is very sad, and losing a loved one can be incredibly difficult and heartbreaking, many of us are still fascinated by historical or famous cemeteries. There’s just something about seeing the final resting spot of historical figures and celebrities that intrigues us. For some, it’s a stop on a tour, for other’s it’s a destination. Let’s explore five famous cemeteries from around the world: Highgate Cemetery – London, England London’s Highgate Cemetery is considered one of England’s most beautiful. While it seems odd to call a cemetery beautiful, Highgate does have some stunning architecture and remarkable monuments. Find peace among the vines and greenery – as it takes you away from the busy London streets. Highgate is famous for being the final resting place of many notable people, including Karl Marx. Interestingly enough, it is still open for some burials. Due to limited space, only the very elderly and terminally ill may pre-purchase a plot there.

If you lost someone close to you this year – be it a friend, family member, colleague, or classmate – you are probably entering 2018 with a very different mind set. New Year’s Resolutions might seem silly or trivial, and life feels unpredictable. While it may not work for everyone, some find planning and working towards a goal is a great way to cope with a loss. Here are some suggestions to help you add purpose and meaning to the coming year. Volunteer Many find that giving up some free time for a cause that’s important to them is a great way to get outside of one’s comfort zone. If you want to, choose a cause that relates to the person you lost this year. Whether it’s working with a local charity, helping at a school, coaching a sport’s team, or helping out at a community event. It’s a great way to give back, and you might even meet some new friends with similar goals. Practice Self-Care Many of us spend a lot of time doing things for others. Whether it’s working hard at our job, caring for our families, or making time for our friends. These are all wonderful and worthy ways to pass our time here on earth. That said, many of us neglect to care for ourselves. We’re so busy worrying about others – bosses, parents, children, friends – that we forget to worry about ourselves. Self-care is something everyone needs to implement into their lives in some way, shape, or form. This is especially true if you are grieving. Whether it’s taking a nice hot bath undisturbed, practicing yoga every morning, or taking the time to read a good book and drink a hot cup of tea in the evenings. Self-care can be going for a run to clear your head, or joining a club or sports team that you enjoy. It’s about doing things that make you happy and bring you peace. Travel Whether you go camping in a local park or travel abroad – travel can be quite restorative. Is there a place you’ve always wanted to go but never did because of some silly reason? if this year has taught you anything it’s that life is short and precious. Make 2018 the year you save for your dream vacation. Experiences are often more valuable than things. Spend more time with loved ones Is there an aunt or grandparent you don’t visit enough? A friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with but haven’t? Stop putting it off. Even if it’s just dropping by for tea or meeting up for coffee – it can be meaningful to all involved. If you can’t visit, make a point of calling or Skyping more often to maintain that bond and connection. What are your New Year’s Resolutions?  Happy New Year from all of us at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home & Cremation Centre in Markham!

Losing a loved one is never easy – and the holiday season can amplify those emotions. While skipping the month of December might sound tempting, avoidance is not that answer. There things you can do to make it easier. Accept one invitation While saying no to every invitation seems like a good idea, it can be helpful to go to at least one festive event. Choose one with friends or family you care about and trust and feel comfortable around. You don’t want to attend an event where you feel further isolated. When you’re surrounded by loved ones it can be easier, as many will be sharing in your grief. Enjoy alone time Self-care is an important part of healing. The holidays can be stressful as it is, so be sure to enjoy some quiet time. Sit and read by the fire, or take a warm bath or a soak in a hot tub, or watch a movie or listen to music. It doesn’t have to be holiday themed – just simple relaxing activities that you enjoy doing alone. Visit with friends It doesn’t have to be a party or event, just a cup of coffee or a lunch. Meeting with friends you love and trust can be a great comfort to you. If you have a support system, lean on them. If a friend lives far away, call them if you need to talk. Acknowledge the absence Holidays will feel different. Not just this year, but every year going forward. Traditions will end, but it’s important to remember the good times. Instead of pretending like everything is fine, recognize your loss. Some people find it comforting to do certain things in memory of their deceased loved one, such as make their favourite dish, or play their favourite Christmas carol, or hang their favourite ornament. Others attend services at their church. Let others help If you always cooked the holiday meal, or your deceased spouse did, let others step in and fill those shoes. Other’s may offer to drive you places, or bring you some groceries. Don’t say no to everyone. Sometimes you need to accept help when it’s truly needed. If your neighbour offers to help you clean your house, or shovel your driveway, it’s okay to take them up on that offer. Take it one day at a time There’s no magic wand that makes everything better. You just have to keep going day by day, holiday by holiday. This year might not feel joyous, and maybe not even next year, but you just have to give yourself time and space to cope with the loss. If you’re grieving this holiday season the staff at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home in Markham is there when you need us. We can recommend someone to talk to if needed.

While we see our neighbours and friends getting ready for Halloween with spooky ghosts and pumpkins on their porches, we forget the origins of this now mostly secular holiday. While today we celebrate October 31st by dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, attending parties, carving pumpkins, and watching scary movies, but it wasn’t always like that. Like most western holidays, the origins are quite different from the present day traditions. All Hallows Eve All Hallows Eve is the night before All Hallows Day – also known as All Saints Day. In early Christianity, this meant praying for the souls of the recently departed. In some churches, parishioners would actually visit the cemeteries to lay flowers and light candles on the graves of loved ones. In some cultures they would leave out meals for these spirits of loved ones. This is perhaps where we get the spooky imagery of graveyards at night. That said, All Hollows Eve was not meant to be scary – but more of a tradition. Jack-o-lanterns were created by celtic cultures for All Hallows Eve to scare off evil spirits. Day of the Dead Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead in Spanish) is a Mexican holiday that happens on November 2 that is closely connected with All Souls Day – the Christian holiday that happens the day after All Hallows Day. Much like All Hallows Eve, the Day of the Dead is about gathering to remember family members who have passed on. While many Roman Catholic Mexicans celebrate All Saints Day, Día de Muertos is believed to have originated from an Aztec festival. Traditions include adorning graves of loved ones with marigolds, bread, sugar skulls, tissue paper, fruit and nuts, incense, and more. Sugar skulls have become a popular image in North American culture these days – with the images adorning clothing, cellphone cases, and other items. Sugar skulls (calavera) are decorative offerings designed to look like a human skull, with some adornments. Small sugar skulls were made to represent children who had passed, and larger ones representing adults. Day of the Dead is a chance for the living to communicate in some way with their departed relatives. People often share funny or heartwarming stories as a way to interact and remember their loved ones. Their favourite foods are left on their graves, which are gathered before hand in preparation for this day. Lesson Whether you consider yourself to be a religious or spiritual person or not, you can take some of these traditions and use them in your daily life. Sharing stories about loved ones and remembering and celebrating their life is important. We don’t have to stop sharing stories once the funeral is over. Keep your loved ones alive in your heart by sharing the joy and laughter they brought you. Celebrate your loved one with a memorial .