Why You Can't Bring Artificial Flowers To The Cemetery

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

The place is alive here: why you can't bring artificial flowers to the cemetery

Traditions and rituals change over time, and this also affected the culture of commemorating the dead. More and more people are abandoning natural flowers in favor of artificial ones, decorating the graves of their deceased relatives with them. But is this progress good? Church ministers, ecologists and ordinary citizens assure - no.

Why not decorate graves with artificial flowers

Synthetic wreaths at first glance may seem like an inexpensive and attractive alternative to living ones, which will quickly fade and rot. But it is noteworthy that the long-lasting "presentation" of artificial flowers is partly not true. Of course, the synthetic wreath will last a little longer, but for weeks it will hardly please the eye - under the influence of the sun, dust, dirt and animals living nearby, it will quickly become unusable, after which it will only have to be taken to the trash.

By the way, about the trash heap. You probably know that most of the waste is incinerated, after which the toxic substances contained in it enter the atmosphere. It turns out that artificial flowers are a rather dangerous product. The petals are usually painted with aniline paint, the compounds of which, getting into the lungs, can cause dizziness, headache, and nausea. And the cores of such flowers are often made of polystyrene, which, when heated (not necessarily when burned - one day in the sun is enough), releases a carcinogenic sterol. Stems and buds are usually made of PVC, which is also toxic when burned.

If you do not throw away the wreath, then by itself it will not go anywhere and, moreover, will not decompose in the soil. The plastic and polystyrene from which the flowers are made take about 400-600 years to decompose. Not to mention the fact that carcinogenic substances will poison the earth, which can lead to soil depletion and death of plants in this area.

Especially enterprising citizens can collect artificial flowers of others after Radonitsa and other memorial holidays - someone from garbage dumps, and someone directly from graves. These "recycled" wreaths are then sold to the next commemoration. If you do not want someone to steal a large and beautiful wreath for resale from the grave of your deceased relative, choose fresh flowers.

It can also be noted that beautiful and natural looking artificial flowers are very expensive, and most synthetic wreaths look very cheap and unpresentable.

Opinion of the Russian Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Church also does not welcome artificial flowers in cemeteries. The first thing that the churchmen note is the lack of spiritual meaning, life in plastic products. The clergy also illuminate the ecological side of this issue. Many priests in branches try to conduct educational talks with lay people in order to dissuade them from buying artificial flowers.

Another reason why the church calls to abandon artificial wreaths is the lack of tradition. Religion is rather wary of any innovations and relies on centuries-old traditions. And in the past, there were no synthetic flowers that could be placed on graves.

Artificial flowers on the grave will not benefit either you or the memory of the deceased. It is better to pay attention to more modest, but real, living wreaths and bouquets. And if there is no financial opportunity to lay natural flowers on the grave, then limit yourself to prayer - the church claims that such a commemoration is enough.