– I think it is no problem that the ashes are scattered where people want, says Arvid Steinum, funeral consultant and general manager of Alpha Begravelse in Stavanger. He finds that more and more people are raising questions about being allowed to scatter the ashes, instead of a traditional funeral with a coffin and burial in a cemetery. He is strongly against the current rules around the scattering of ashes, where it is only allowed to scatter the ashes over the open sea, or far into the mountains (external link) – We have old rules and regulations that should have been put in a drawer with a padlock on it. It works well in other countries for relatives to manage this themselves, Steinum states. Arvid Steinum is a funeral consultant, or undertaker, and also an ordained priest. He helps relatives who want to spread the ashes of those they have lost. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news With some information from funeral homes, he sees that people can sort this out themselves. – If you want to spread the ashes under a bush at home in the garden, which is a special memory, then that would be great. You must be able to assess this yourself, without having to apply to the state for three copies. Happens in other countries Steinum sees that ash scattering is far more common in other countries. He himself singles out England, which he is very fond of after living there for several years. Stavanger crematorium has a lot of demand from relatives who want those who have passed away to be cremated. More and more urns are also being delivered to those who want to have their ashes scattered. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news – Especially in the Lake District towards Scotland. There is great nature there, like here. I have never heard anything that this has been unworthy, or that it is not appropriate. We don’t have that many million inhabitants in this country, and we have huge areas to spread over, if we want to, says Steinum. More people are choosing to scatter ashes. More people are being cremated, and the number of applications for scattering ashes to the state trustees is increasing year by year. In 2013, 15,725 people were cremated in Norway, while 354 families asked for the ashes to be handed over. In 2022, 21,911 were cremated, while 926 received the ashes. The State Administrator in Rogaland received 126 applications for ash scattering in 2022. 85 were approved. This increased in 2023 to 166 applications, and 130 were approved. At Stavanger crematorium, almost 1,000 dead were cremated in this oven in 2023. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news Stavanger crematorium covers the whole of Rogaland. Here, the proportion of the dead who are cremated has almost doubled in ten years. In 2023, almost 1,000 dead were cremated. And more and more urns are being handed out for the scattering of ashes. Will there be changes Kirkverge in Stavanger, Rune Skagestad, says it is a desired development that more people choose to scatter ashes. Churchwarden Rune Skagestad in Stavanger believes there will be new rules for scattering ashes, which will make it easier for relatives to choose this. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news – Scattering of ashes does not entail a need for cemetery space, nor does it require resources to open or close urn graves. So from such a perspective, an increase in ash spreading is desirable, says Skagestad. The church guardian believes there will be changes for the scattering of ashes, but not as radical as Steinum wants. – We have very conservative legislation in the cemetery field. I believe that in the long term, there will be more practical solutions, both in relation to the application process and the possibility of receiving spare ashes, for example in a cemetery. We see that this is already in place in other countries, says Skagestad. Stavanger Kirkelige Fellesråd and Skagestad have already started preparing for rule changes. – We are working on an expansion of the cemetery at Hundvåg. There, we have thought in the future plans that an area should be able to be used for scattering ashes, says the church warden. Must go to the Storting There is an Act on burial grounds, cremation and burial (the Graveyard Act) that must be changed if the practice of spreading ashes is to be softened. This means that it is the Storting that must make changes. – This means that a change to the rules for ash spreading will take a long time. But the increase we see in ash scattering throughout the country will push for a change, believes the churchwarden in Stavanger, Rune Skagestad. Traditional burials with a coffin and own grave require a lot of space, scattering of ashes requires no space. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news Unwritten contract Bedemann Arvid Steinum has experienced that over many years there has been an almost unwritten contract regarding ash spreading. He finds that relatives mostly do as they want once the application has been approved. Arvid Steinum believes that more people scatter the ashes where it suits them, not just where they are allowed. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news – I often say to relatives: Feel free to apply to be allowed to scatter the ashes at sea, then you will be granted this. Then they get the urn and can do as they please. No one asks what they do with the urn once they have received it. And then the ashes are scattered here and there. The undertaker is also a trained priest, and has already thought through how he wants to leave this earth. – I myself want to be laid in a grave, but I choose that myself. After cremation, the ashes are placed in such urns when the ashes are to be scattered. Either on the open sea or in the mountains. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news
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Funeral agent believes people don’t care about the rules and scatter the ashes where they want – want change – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
