A Burning Question: Reimagining Portugal's Journey Towards Cremation
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Abstract
Portugal only legalized cremation in 1911, but this funerary practice had long been a topic of discussion. As far back as the mid-19th century, Portuguese intellectuals had been contemplating cremation as a clean, efficient, and dignified alternative to both public cemeteries and church burial—the latter of which had been the dominant practice for centuries. In the struggle between the age-old practice of burial and the emerging practice of cremation, the former emerged victorious. But what if cremation had become the dominant funerary practice as early as the 19th century? By examining the evolution of burial and cremation through a cultural and religious lens, this paper investigates how a shift from burial to cremation could have influenced different elements of Portuguese society, from the specific dynamics of cemetery usage and mourning practices to the broader effects on the environment and the economy.
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