Beisetzen

Beisetzen is the German verb for interring a deceased person in the earth, typically in a cemetery. The related noun Beisetzung denotes the act of burial or the burial ceremony; Beerdigung is a closely related term and is often used for the service, while Beisetzung emphasizes the interment itself.

In a Beisetzung the body is usually placed in a coffin (Sarg) and lowered into a grave. If the person was cremated, the urn is interred in accordance with local regulations, sometimes as Urnenbeisetzung in a grave or in a columbarium. The ceremony is typically organized by a funeral director in coordination with cemetery authorities and follows the issuance of a death certificate and a burial permit, as well as cemetery-specific rules on grave type, opening times, and maintenance.

Two common forms of interment are Erdbestattung (burial of the body in the ground) and Feuerbestattung (cremation), followed by Urnenbeisetzung (burial of the ashes) or an urn placement in a family grave or communal resting place. Beisetzungen occur within a formal funeral service or memorial, though practices and timing vary by country, region, and religious or secular tradition. Legal and administrative requirements, including grave ownership, plot permissions, and compliance with cemetery regulations, shape how and when a Beisetzung takes place.

Cultural and religious traditions influence the rites, prayers, eulogies, grave markers, and commemorations surrounding Beisetzung. Despite differences in practice, the core act remains the disposition of remains in the ground or in an urn, followed by ongoing care and remembrance at the grave site.