kremering

Kremering, or cremation, is the process of reducing a deceased body to ashes through high-temperature combustion. It is performed in a crematorium and has become a common method of disposition in many countries, chosen for cultural, religious, environmental, or practical reasons.

The procedure typically begins with preparation of the body in a suitable container; embalming is not required. The body is placed in a cremation chamber, where it is exposed to high temperatures until tissue is reduced to bone fragments. The fragments are processed into a fine powder called cremains or ashes. The remains are returned to the family in an urn, kept, or disposed of by scattering, in a memorial garden, or burying in a cemetery.

Alternative methods include water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) in some jurisdictions, and green or natural cremation using biodegradable containers. Modern crematoria employ emission controls to limit pollutants, including filtration for particulates and dental-mercury emissions.

Legal frameworks require authorization from next of kin, proper death certification, and licensed facilities.

Religious and cultural attitudes to kremering vary. Some faiths permit cremation with specific practices for handling ashes, while others discourage or prohibit it. It remains a major disposal method in many communities, with a wide range of memorial options.

Historically, cremation gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries as urbanization grew, and is now widely available in many parts of the world. It offers flexible memorial options, including urns, columbaria, scattering, and burial.