WDEC 2024 at the Monumental Cemetery of Pavia

Monumental Cemetery of Pavia
Discover the events that will take place in Pavia, Italy, during the WDEC 2024 and throughout the year.

Events program

Events program 2024 at the Monumental Cemetery of Pavia

10 March 2024, at 15.00: The women of the "Famedio": a mission of love and generosity (conference)

22 March 2024, from 9.00 to 13.00: In memory of Giuliano Ravizza, a life for Pavia (Docufilm and conversation at the Cinema Teatro Politeama in Pavia - initiative aimed at high schools in Pavia)

➤ 24 March 2024, at 15.00: Female figures between allegory and reality (guided tour)

14 April 2024, at 15.00 and at 17.00: The history of the monumental cemetery, il "Famedio" (guided tour)

➤ 21 April 2024, at 15.00: Camillo Golgi: a Nobel Prize winner from Pavia (conference)

➤ 12 May 2024, at 18.00 and at 21.00: This death that accompanies us from morning to night (guided tour)

➤ 24 May 2024, at 21.00: Summer concert (musical event)

15 September 2024, at 18.00 and at 21.00: Sciences and scientists at the cemetery (theatrical visit)

➤ 13 October 2024, at 15.00 and at 17.00: The soldiers' graves and commemorative monuments (guided tour)

➤ 20 October 2024, at 15.00: Torquato Taramelli: a life for geology (conference)

➤ 24 November 2024, at 15.00: Pietro Pavesi and Ercole Fossati: two people from Pavia with a life dedicated to their city (conference)

➤ 15 December 2024, at 16.00: Christmas concert (musical event)

Additional information and reservations

All the events are free of charge but prior reservations are required since the number of places is limited.

For additional information and reservations contact "Assessorato Servizi Cimiteriali" al cfusco@comune.pv.it or +39 03823 99427.




*Photo source: Di Lou Salomé - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21209271

UNESCO initiative from Germany

UNESCO initiative from Germany
The "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur" invites you to join the initiative "Intangible cultural heritage: Cemetery culture in Europe".

About the initiative

Cemetery culture is part of the "Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage" in Germany. It refers to the architecture of cemeteries, burial practices and mourning and commemoration rituals. Associated craft techniques and customs preserve this cultural form and ensure the maintenance of the cemeteries.

The official partner of the German UNESCO Commission for the care, preservation and further development of this intangible cultural heritage is the "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur". This non-profit association is now reaching for a UNESCO nomination of "Intangible cultural heritage:  Cemetery culture in Europe" as a common initiative of several European countries. To achieve this aim, it is necessary that other European countries obtain the Intangible Cultural Heritage status for their national cemetery culture.

Call for cooperation

The Kuratorium is now looking for European partners. If you are interested in collaboration, please contact Tobias Pehle (director of the Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur) at info@kulturerbe-friedhof.de or +49 163 171 70 39 925.

The official call for cooperation can be found HERE.





*Photo by Tobias Pehle, source https://www.unesco.de/en/culture-and-nature/intangible-cultural-heritage/cemetery-culture

"Cimitero dal Vivo": a unique way to discover Ravenna's Historic Cemetery

Ravenna's Historic Cemetery
An innovative format that includes a digital game R-Tales, a new digital map, and a live show with music, theater, and performance.

Cemeteries as living spaces

Ravenna's Historic Cemetery

Playing in a historic cemetery may seem transgressive, but you can do it, you must. This was precisely the goal set by Panda Project's "Cimitero dal Vivo" (eng. "Cemetery Live"), winner of the PNRR TOCC Call for Proposals Digital Transition Cultural and Creative Bodies funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU.

In December 2022, Emilia Romagna was the first region in Italy that passed a law for the "Recognition and Enhancement of Monumental and Historic Cemeteries", with the aim of ensuring the enhancement, preservation and promotion of these assets, encouraging their use by citizens.

In England, cemeteries are living places, where it is possible to walk, read, study or have a picnic with friends. The northern European cemeteries provide a different way of being with the deceased. The Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen, for example, is not experienced as a place of sadness but of recreation, and it is not uncommon to see people sunbathing.

About the project

The "Cimitero dal Vivo" project

The "Cimitero dal Vivo" project, carried out in 2024, aims to regenerate the entire Darsena district and is based on an innovative format for visiting Ravenna's Historic Cemetery that makes use of new digital tools and immersive audio. The project created the urban digital game R-Tales, a new digital map, and a live show that combines music, theater, and performance creating a unique and unforgettable experience.

How does the game work? Davide Leone, Soc. Coop U'Game, explains: "The purpose of the R-Tales game is to help a mysterious soul find himself by confronting four exciting missions that recount as many important events in the city's history. You will discover, through the deceased voices of the main characters the adventure of Giuseppe Garibaldi and the exploits of Romolo Gessi, the mystery of Dante's bones, the quarrel between the most important orchestra conductor of the time and Giuseppe Verdi over the love of a soprano."

The map and urban game are part of a series of interactive online paths that take us through emotional-collective memories to discover the characters buried at the cemetery who made the city's history, such as Luigi Rasi and Filippo Mordani. They immerse us in the mysteries hidden among the graves and the artistic wonders of the Monumental Cemetery.

The importance of the project

Press conference about the project

"Monumental places in our city have always inspired artists," says Ravenna Culture Councillor Fabio Sbaraglia, "They have stimulated projects capable of placing diverse spot lights on spaces we are fond of or used to hang out at. Panda Project, with a special look and a deep and conscious respect, investigates the history of our historic cemetery through a project that embraces the entire dock area and connects with the urban regeneration experiences that our city has undertaken over the years."

"Historic cemeteries are magical places and they are free: A historical, cultural and green heritage that must be enhanced and not left to decay. We need to change the paradigm: we must give historic cemeteries a new meaning and people a new way of approaching them and approaching death," explains Delia Trice of Panda Project.

Matteo Pini of Spazi Indecisi, who created the project's graphic identity and the new mapping, tells of their involvement: "The sensations conveyed by the Historic Cemetery immediately pushed the work of Spazi Indecisi toward a concept related to contrasts: the most recurrent dualism (life/death) is materialized symbolically through the anomalous, borderline location that contrasts monumental and industrial architecture, widening the point of view, nature and anthropization, land and water. The intention is to highlight the cemetery's values of memory, rest and tranquility, in which the natural presence of trees and water mitigates that of some Gothic novel settings, arousing in the visitor a sense of fascination rather than disquiet. Hence the choices of lettering, more friendly than austere, and of a high-contrast color palette, which combines cool tones of blue with the industrial buildings, and warm tones of yellow and red with the cemetery. Also evident between the lines is a reference to the heraldic colors of the city of Ravenna and an admiring reference to "Deserto Rosso" (M. Antonioni, 1964) in the choice of the color of the pine trees."

Project participants

A great contribution to the project was that of Sguardi in Camera, an association specializing in private visual archives (family films and photographs). For the "Cimitero dal Vivo" project, it oversaw the research and collection of oral testimonies of teenagers.

Frame Lab - UniBo and Penelope Muratori, who worked on text verification, writing and video material creation for the project, produced a narrative in images that takes us inside the experience created by the game.

Link to the video: https://vimeo.com/910792719

Panda Project contacts:

info@pandaproject.it
+39 347 0743593

AGM 2024: Share your preferences

Fiumei Road Cemetery, Budapest
Complete a short survey to help us organize this year's AGM & Conference according to your wishes.

This year's AGM and Conference will take place in the second half of September in Budapest, Hungary.

Before releasing the exact date and program, we would like to hear your opinions and preferences regarding certain aspects of the event organization.

To ensure that your experience at the AGM and Conference will meet your expectations, please complete a short survey which was prepared for this purpose. The survey is anonymous, and your answers will be taken into account when determining the details of the event. We will do our best to tailor the AGM & Conference to your preferences.

Access the survey

Due to organizational deadlines, please complete the survey by March 1, 2024.






Accessibility of cemeteries

Accessibility of cemeteries
Share your examples of good practices regarding accessibility challenges in your cemetery.

The objective of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) is to raise European citizen awareness of the importance of significant cemeteries. We encourage people to visit and explore cemeteries, learn about them, and in this way, start seeing them as places of life that carry a rich cultural heritage. For this to be possible, cemeteries must be accessible to everyone - including people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The COCEMFE's project

The Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and/or Organic Disabilities (COCEMFE) Asturias is currently working on a project, in which they try to make a cemetery area located in a natural space as accessible as possible for people with disabilities and/or reduced mobility, so that all citizens can make use of this new public space.

Since this is a very important topic that should be exposed more often, we are reaching out to our ASCE and European Cemeteries Route members as well as all other cemetery managers. On behalf of the COCEMFE, we are asking you to share your examples of successful practices regarding accessibility challenges in your cemeteries. We encourage you to provide insights into how you have overcome these issues, ensuring maximum accessibility for all cemetery visitors. Additionally, suggestions for further improvements on this field are welcomed.

Share examples of good practices

If you believe that your cemetery has implemented effective solutions to facilitate easy access for individuals with disabilities and mobility impairments, please contact David Fernández González from the Oficina Técnica de Accesibilidad at accesibilidad@cocemfeasturias.es.

We hope that as many of our members as possible can serve as exemplary models in promoting accessibility on cemeteries!

WDEC 2024: Environmental sustainability and climate change

WDEC 2024: Environmental sustainability and climate change
This year's WDEC will focus on cemeteries' dedication to environmental sustainability and fight against climate change.

Climate change is the consequence of global warming of the Earth and the overall increase in temperature caused by the toxic emissions generated in human activities.

European cemeteries are determined allies in the common fight against climate change. They have been working for years on its mitigation through a wide range of actions and initiatives that demonstrate a strong commitment to the environment. Common measures to reduce environmental impact include:

  • responsible use of fossil energies and water,
  • progressive incorporation of renewable energy sources,
  • respect for the plant and fauna biodiversity of our enclosures,
  • enhancement of native vegetation,
  • responsible waste management,
  • progressive electrification of vehicle fleets.
This year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, scheduled from 24 May to 2 June, will try to highlight the important issue of climate change through various events and activities and showcase different ways in which cemeteries and their visitors can contribute to reducing environmental impact.

Share your activities

We invite you to send programs, photos and other materials of your planned activities during WDEC 2024 to admin@significantcemeteries.org. We will be happy to publish them on the ASCE website and our social networks.

30th EAA Annual Meeting: Call for papers

30th EAA Annual Meeting in Rome, Italy
The Iron Age Danube Route invites you to participate in their session at the 30th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists in Rome, Italy.

About the event

The Iron Age Danube Route is organizing a session in the scope of the 30th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, taking place from 28 to 31 August 2024 in Rome, Italy.

The session's theme is "The Living Heritage: Archaeological Cultural Routes in the Context of Cultural Tourism Network".

The purpose of the session is to discuss the potential of archaeological heritage in fostering cultural tourism and creating sustainable cultural resources for local communities. It will highlight the challenges in effectively integrating archaeological sites into tourism, emphasizing the need for long-term sustainability at the local level. Furthermore, the session aims to explore ways in which archaeological cultural routes, particularly those under the Council of Europe, can contribute to long-term partner and stakeholder networks. 

Experts from diverse fields are expected to share theoretical models, approaches, and examples of good practices in developing cultural tourism products based on archaeological heritage.

Details about the session are available HERE.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate in the session is invited to submit their presentation abstract at the EAA website.

Deadline for abstract submission is 8 February 2024.

For any additional questions please contact Mrs. Marta Rakvin at ironagedanuberoute@gmail.com.





*Photo source: www.e-a-a.org/eaa2024

Festive gathering at the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery

Guests convene in the chapel.
A special event, that marked the five-year anniversary of the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative and its efforts for the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery.

About the event

On 15 December 2023, the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative held its second annual seasonal gathering at Istanbul’s Feriköy Protestant Cemetery. Besides celebrating the holidays, the event showcased the results of a major 2023 preservation project. Supervised by Initiative member The American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), with funding from the US Mission to Türkiye as well as a private donor, the conservation work comprised shoring up, realigning, repairing, and cleaning twelve historic tombs in the cemetery’s US section. Several other achievements of 2023 were also celebrated, including the completion of a year-long study of the cemetery’s ecology supported by the British Institute at Ankara and the finalization of monument recording in the cemetery’s German section by interns from Orient-Institut Istanbul (OII).

Attended by members of foreign diplomatic missions and research centers, students and administrators from Istanbul’s Robert College (RC), and other guests, the event opened with speeches and a music program in the cemetery’s chapel, continued with a tour of the renovation area, and ended with a reception, which included the cutting of an “Initiative cake.”

Robert College also held a memorial ceremony beside four of the newly restored tombs that commemorate family members of the school's founder, Cyrus Hamlin. A new RC memorial plaque on the wall behind the tombs was also unveiled, along with a newly designed information panel for the cemetery's US section, which serves as a model for further informational signage in the cemetery’s other international sections. Prototype QR codes for two of the renovated monuments were also highlighted as a method for providing details about those that the tombs commemorate.

This event marked the five-year anniversary of the Initiative and its efforts for the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery. Among its many activities, the Initiative has mapped the cemetery; recorded and renovated its monuments; studied its ecology; publicized its history; catalogued and digitized its archive; and created new rules and procedures to improve its administration. “PCI”—professionalism in all its endeavors, cooperation among its members and with the cemetery’s governing board and the public, and involvement in all aspects of the site—is the hallmark of the Protestant Cemetery Initiative, both for the last half decade and for the future.

Please write to initiative@ferikoycemetery.org or further information about the Initiative, its work, and how to become involved.

Photos:

Initiative member Richard Wittmann (Orient-Institut Istanbul (OII) Assistant Director) opens the event. 2023 president of the cemetery’s diplomatic governing board Kirsten Thompson (Consular Section Chief, US Consulate General, Istanbul) recounts her term in office. Audrey Wozniak (Harvard University, OII, ARIT) and independent musician Oktay Üst perform a selection of Christmas carols and Turkish winter-themed songs. Tour of the renovation area in the cemetery’s US section. Commemorative wreaths on the graves of the family of the founder of Robert College, Cyrus Hamlin, and a new RC memorial plaque on the wall behind. Five renovated American tombs: 1, front row (left); 2, middle row (center); 2, back row (center). US section information panel. QR code on a renovated tomb (foreground, scan the code on this page for information about the person it commemorates). Refreshment and conversation at the reception. Tomb conservation director Jan Gavrilof (Gavrilof & Gavrilof Architecture, Engineering, and Consulting Ltd.) and Initiative member and renovation project supervisor Brian Johnson (ARIT) cut the “Initative cake.”

QR code to scan.

25th Cemeteries Colloquium: Call for papers

25th Cemeteries Colloquium in York, UK
The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the 25th Cemeteries Colloquium, taking place on the 24th May 2024 in York, UK.

About the event

On the 24th May 2024, the 25th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting in York, United Kingdom.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across all the humanities and social sciences. The event has an emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate is invited to submit their presentation abstract of no more than 250 words by using the submission portal at the Cemetery Research Group website.

Deadline for abstract submission is 11th April 2024.

For any additional questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.








*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

International Conference in Athens 2024: Call for paper

First cemetery of Athens
The Harokopio University invites you to participate in the International Conference on Cemetery Studies, taking place from 18 to 20 April 2024 in Athens, Greece.

About the conference

From 18 to 20 April 2024, the International Conference on Cemetery Studies will take place at Harokopio University in Athens, organized by Harokopio University in collaboration with the University of York, both members of ASCE.

The event intends to bring together a wide spread of academics, presenting their latest research findings concerning various aspects of cemeteries (end of 18th century onwards), including history, art and culture, anthropology, geography, social studies and cemetery tourism. Postgraduates and doctoral students are especially welcome.

The guest of honor at the event will be the ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

The conference fee is 30 euros (15 euros for doctoral students), including light lunch, refreshments and a guided tour in a historical cemetery of Athens. 

IMPORTANT: For all ASCE members who wish to attend the conference (without presentation) there won't be registration fees. The number of places is limited, so please confirm your participation at ioannaparaskevopoulou@yahoo.gr by the end of February.

Conference language: English.

Call for papers

Abstracts of no more than 300 words and a short, 100-word CV (both in word format and in English) should be sent to ioannaparaskevopoulou@yahoo.gr no later than 31 January 2024.

An edited selection of papers from the conference will be published in electronic form (with ISBN).

You can find the entire call for papers HERE.

2° Cultural Routes Academic Workshop

Online worshop
We invite you to attend the 2° Cultural Routes Academic Workshop, which will take place online on 7th December 2023.

About the workshop

Following a successful first edition in 2021, the European Institute of Cultural Routes (Technical Agency of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme) in cooperation with the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies is organising its second academic workshop with the purpose of bringing together scholars, researchers, and students to exchange and share their research outcomes in the field of Cultural Routes studies.

The workshop will be held entirely online on Thursday, 7th December 2023, via the Zoom platform and streamed through the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Facebook page @CultureRoutes.

Program

The program will feature the presentation of theoretical perspectives, state of the art research reports, case studies and research work relating to Cultural Routes from a variety of disciplines and universities across Europe. Presentations and discussions will revolve around four main themes:

  1. Redefining cultural routes: exploring dynamic narratives of religious heritage and cultural assets.
  2. A holistic approach to sustainable tourism and community engagement along cultural routes.
  3. Cultural routes for all: digitalization and accessibility for an inclusive cultural experience.
  4. Addressing challenges and shaping the future of cultural routes through cooperation and innovative approaches.
A preliminary programme of the workshop can be found HERE.

We are pleased that, among other things, the results of the workshop "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Cultural Heritage, Landscape and Tourism" will also be presented. A project from 2022 in which the European Cemeteries Route also participated. 

Participation at the workshop

European Cemeteries Route has been a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2010. Therefore, we would like our representatives to attend the workshop with some interesting presentation topics.

We invite anyone who would like to participate in the workshop to send their presentation proposal in English to ioanna@significantcemeteries.org till 9th November 2023, so that we can review it before the official submission of the abstract to the organizers of the event.

You can find the entire call for papers HERE and the abstract template HERE.

2nd memorial evening at Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck

Memorial evening for Charlie Chaplin
At the end of October 2023, the second event of the "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" took place at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck, Austria.

Memorial evening for Charlie Chaplin

The "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" initiative started in 2022 with the aim to commemorate special individuals, who made significant contributions to humanity, with memorial evenings at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck.

Last year, on the 80th anniversary of Edith Stein's death, a concert and reading were held to commemorate her life and work. The reading was performed by the actress Bernadette Abendstein.

This year, the focus was on Charlie Chaplin, who was also presented through texts and enchanting music. The reading was performed by the actor Hakon Hirzenberger. The event was truly special and over 30 people took part in it.

The presentations alternate each year, with a woman reading about a woman one year, and a man reading about a man the next. So, next year, Bernadette Abendstein will read about a woman, who will soon be chosen by her.

Photos of the event

King’s Award to Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery

Lister Lane Cemetery
We are proud to announce that our member, Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery, has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

It was announced on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 75th birthday that The Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery have been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) – the highest recognition granted to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom, equivalent to an MBE.

Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery are very proud to receive this accolade and hope it will help them promote their wonderful cemetery and its occupants.

The award will be later presented by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.






*Photo source: https://twitter.com/ListerLaneCem.

International congress: "Heritage, a shared responsibility"

International congress: Heritage, a shared responsibility
From 9 to 11 November 2023, Cementiris de Barcelona participated in the international congress in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

About the event

From 9 to 11 November 2023, an international congress on the topic “Heritage, a shared responsibility” took place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The event was organised by Hispania Nostra, part of Europa Nostra.

Under the slogan “Patrimonio somos todos” (“We are all heritage”), this congress sought to reflect on the protection and knowledge of cultural heritage. It focused on how cultural heritage can be used in a search for diversity and multiculturalism, a defence of democracy, a place of collective memory and personal reflection, and a defence of fundamental rights. Debates about these objectives were tied to the use of new technologies, and the importance of including the general public in the maintenance of cultural heritage.

Representing European Cemeteries Route

The representative of Cementiris de Barcelona, Adrià Terol, participated in a debate with the President of ICOMS Argentina, the General Secretary of AEPJ and the General Director of Cultura for the OEI. The debate focused on how European culture routes can be a source of social and economic development, as well as their effects on civil society.

Our spokesperson’s role was to represent the European Cemeteries Route, part of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. With Barcelona Cemeteries as an example of how cemeteries are a part of a city’s heritage, Terol explained what activities are put on offer to the public or to research and education institutions, and how these activities help to create a better dialogue between cemeteries and the heritage they hold and the general public. There was also a focus on links to Ibero-american heritage routes, and how Ibero-american and European heritage tie into one another.

The congress was a good way to present our work, at both a local and international level, to a wider public, and to gain new contacts. The congress was covered by various media outlets.

King’s Award to Friends of Flaybrick

Friends of Flaybrick
We are proud to announce that our member, Friends of Flaybrick, has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

About the award

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom. The award recognizes outstanding work done by volunteer groups in their communities and it is the equivalent to an MBE.

Further information about the award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk.

Friends of Flaybrick

The Friends of Flaybrick charity was established in 1993 by John Moffat, who today works as secretary of the group, with the intent of bringing Flaybrick back into the community. The members and volunteers have worked hard since then to achieve that aim, despite occasional setbacks, which only make them more determined to succeed.

Their Chair, Rob Dolphin, said "We are such a wonderful hard working group with a range of skills and abilities which suit the tasks we undertake and it is my great joy and honour to accept the award on behalf of our charity. This gives true recognition to all members and volunteers, both past and present."

Upon receiving the award, they would like to express their thanks to Lord Field of Birkenhead who kindly sponsored the award bid, and also Councillor George Davies, former Mayor of Wirral and Elizabeth Davey, the prominent local historian, for their wonderful letters of endorsement. The group would also like to take the opportunity to express their thanks to the people of Wirral and beyond who support them in all weathers and attend their guided walks, Services of Remembrance and open days in great numbers.





*Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/FlaybrickFriends/.

Planting a peace tree at Lister Lane Cemetery

Peace tree at Lister Lane Cemetery
On 12 November 2023, a peace tree was planted at Lister Lane Cemetery in Halifax, United Kingdom.

About the Peace Tree Project

The ASCE Peace Tree Project aims to encourage ASCE members to plant a tree at their cemeteries as a symbolic reminder of the importance of peace, not only after death but also during life. In doing so, the central message of the project is spread: “Live in peace to rest in peace!”.

The planting of the first tree and thereby the official start of the project took place at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia, on 25 May 2023.

You can find more details about the project HERE.

Peace Tree at Lister Lane Cemetery

On 12 November 2023, the United Kingdom Remembrance Sunday, a peace tree was planted at Lister Lane Cemetery in Halifax.

The tree is a Hawthorn which is a long living native tree whith many flowers and berries. This is particularly important since the flowers are needed for the bees and berries for the birds living in the cemetery.

Halloween at the Newtown Road Cemetery

Halloween at Newtown Road Cemetery 2023
This Halloween, the historic Newton Road Cemetery in Rushden, England, became the stage of an original event that blended slow tourism with an educational note.

Event organisation

Sexton

In October 2023, Friends of Newtown Road Cemetery linked up with City Arts, a community art centre, based in an old Wesleyan Missionary Chapel, to organise a unique Halloween event like no other.

The purpose of the event was to celebrate Samhain. Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced ‘sow-win’) is a Celtic ceremony marking the transition from light to dark as the year unfolds and it is the precursor of Halloween.

With a total of eight executed performances over three nights, the event proved to be a great success, leaving participants with lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for the stories embedded in Newton Road Cemetery. The participation fee was £10 per person. 

Three different "ghosts" appeared in the event's performances - all based on real people buried near the ceremonial space (a motor mechanic, a female parish visitor and a wine merchant/Freemason).

Event program

Sexton

Participants started by doing crafts, mostly decorating small skulls, before encountering the Great Memergiser (downstairs). He explained their tasks for the evening. They had to follow three alleys towards the local cemetery. On the way, they would meet three wise women who would give them items to carry and information to remember.

Two volunteers shepherded the group along the alleys. The "Maiden" gave each person a sprig of rosemary (for remembrance). Then to acquire energy they had to touch green on green. They used the rosemary to swipe any overhanging branches. The "Mother" gave them each a red candle. As they walked along the outside high wall of the cemetery, they could hear a drum beating, sticks snapping, whining noise, and screams. Then, the "Crone" gave each person a black stone decorated with a rune, took them to the cemetery gate and called out "Is anybody there?”. The cemetery sexton appeared, opened the gates, and told the group to follow him/her. As they walked along, they were told to touch iron to increase their strength. Many of the graves have iron railings around so it was easy to complete that task. 

Eventually they reached the ceremonial space where the Great Memergiser appeared. First, he asked them to crush the rosemary and smell it, then drop it to the ground and stamp on it. Then they all lit their candle, still holding it. He asked what they had been told by the Wise Women, who might be memergised. Then they held their stone and started chanting. The chant, as it got faster, became "We Remember Them".

Ghost

At this point they had turned around and were facing the Chapel which was in darkness. Inside there were disco smoke machines with coloured lights. The doors of the Chapel slowly opened, the smoke billowed out and through the smoke walked the "ghost". The ghost thanked them for memergising him/her. Said a little about what they were going to do with this opportunity and walked away.

The group was then led towards the Chapel. As they reached it, the lights were switched on and they came inside. Warm spiced apple juice awaited them and the Magister who asked them to look at some 19th century photos (CDVs) to see if they could spot the ghost they had seen. Of course, they couldn’t, despite all the photos being taken by professional photographers in Newbury. No-one had bothered to write on the photos who each person was. 

The participants could also match the design of the rune on the stone to see what its meaning was.

Educational messages

There were two messages to take away from this event. First, the importance of remembering those who had died every year in some way (flowers, visiting graves, looking at letters, photos, talking about them). And second, taking time to print off photos and then writing who each person was on the back. A good winter evening project.

Note: "Memergise" is a word that Ros Clow, one of the organizers of the event, made up for a Halloween story in 2017. The word communicates that remembering someone gives us the energy to walk around the cemetery on Halloween and talk with anyone we meet, ghost or not.


Two of the wise women Path home lit by candles in jars Sexton and the ghost of wine merchant Searching for photo of the ghost Looking for meaning of their rune Teenage runner did the sounds - the most frightening part of the evening

Križevci city cemetery (Križevci, Croatia)

Križevci city cemetery (Križevci, Croatia)
The Križevci city cemetery was officially founded in 1902, while the first burials in this place date back to 1898.

About the cemetery

The Križevci city cemetery consists of two parts. The area of 36.330 m2 relates to the “Old Cemetery” which was planned and designed by architect Stjepan Podhorsky in 1916. The area of 35.000 m2 relates to the “New Cemetery” which was planned and designed by Vesna Makovec in 2013. Architects and landscape designers are not famous people in world sense, but they are well known in the city of Križevci and Croatia.

The entrance to the cemetery is dominated by the Chapel of St. Roch and there are many graves of monuments that have been preserved in their original form. The landscape is carefully designed and regularly maintained. It includes  centuries-old conifers and other plants that cover approximately 20.000 m2 of the cemetery area.

In the Jewish part of Križevci city cemetery the construction of arcades began around 1910. Since the archives of the City of Križevci, in the period from 1860 to 1945, were destroyed after World War II, it is impossible to determine with certainty the author of the project, the contractor, or the time of construction of the arcades. Nevertheless, the construction project is attributed to the famous Croatian architect Stjepan Podhorski, who at the time was working on two other important projects in Križevci: the restoration of the church of St. Cross and construction of the Croatian National House building. There are a total of eight arcades in Jewish Arcades with one tomb in each of the arcades.

Important graves and monuments

There are many important people buried at the Križevci city cemetery. Some of them are:

  • Antun Nemčić (1813-1849) - Croatian writer who studied law and philosophy in Zagreb. Under the pseudonym A. N. Gostovinsky, he wrote songs, travel books, novels and comedies.
  • Marcel pl. Kipach (1894-1915) - inventor, known as the “miracle child”. His work covers the fields of electronics, magnetism, acoustics, sound transmission and transformers. When he was just sixteen-year-old, he patented the original shape of a ship's compass. He also patented a vehicle lighting dynamo and the current switch on the principle of current pressure for x-rays.
  • Đuro Smičiklas (1815-1881) - Bishop of Križevci. He studied theological study in Zagreb. As a priest, he served for ten years in several parishes throughout Croatia. In 1857 he received the episcopal consecration in Vienna and became the bishop of the Diocese of Križevci where he stood until his death.
  • Ilija pl. Hranilović (1850-1889) - Bishop of Križevci and a very valued priest among the bishops. His legacy is, among other things, a decorated bishop’s palace in Križevci. Unfortunately, he quickly became ill and died at the age of 38.
  • Milena pl. Šugh – Štefanac (1884-1957) - opera singer who studied at the Croatian Institute in Zagreb and in Vienna. For over 10 years she was a member of the opera house in Linz. She continued her singing career in Prague till 1927, when she returned to Križevci. She was especially appreciated as a singing teacher.

Address

Ulica Ivana Lepušića 1
48260 Križevci
Croatia

Contacts

Email: info@komunalno.hr
Phone: +385 48 720 915
Website: www.komunalno.hr

Basic information

Year of first burial: 1898
Current area: 7.13ha
Approximate number of graves: 4.600
Approximate number of burials: 10.000

Marine graveyard in Pula (Croatia)

Marine graveyard in Pula (Croatia)
The Marine graveyard was opened in 1862 by the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Navy. Today is one of the largest military cemeteries in Europe.

About the cemetery

Marine graveyard in Pula is one of the largest military cemeteries in Europe. It was opened in 1862 under its full name K. u. k. Marinefriedhof (Empire and Royal Marine Graveyard), when the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Navy acquired 4.000 m2 of land to use for the burial of military servicemen.

Until 1870, the deceased were buried in groups. This practice consequently got changed for hygienic reasons and the burials started in individual tombs. Over time the Marine graveyard expanded, and until today about 100.000 people have been buried on its 22.000 m2.

During World War I, many victims of war were buried at this cemetery. These were primarily the officers and soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Later on, soldiers serving in other armies were also buried there. During World War II, burial of war victims continued.

By the decision from October 27, 1960, the Cemetery has been declared a Memorial site. From then on, no new burials have been conducted.

Today, the Marine graveyard in Pula houses commemorative marks of Austro-Hungarian soldiers from WWI, Italian and German soldiers from WWII, and the memorial dedicated to National Liberation Struggle fighters and victims fallen in WWII. Considering its importance, the renovation of the cemetery started in the 1990s. After the renovation was completed, the Marine graveyard was listed as one of the monuments protected under the Hague Convention.

Cemetery visitors

Rich cultural and architectural heritage and monuments in Marine graveyard that are over 100 years old, attract many tourists that come to visit the city of Pula. Many tourist guides utilise walkthroughs in Marine graveyard to show important monuments, persons, and events to the visitors.

Furthermore, lots of visitors from today's Italy, Germany, Austria, and Hungary have their ancestors buried in the Marine Graveyard in Pula. When they visit the city of Pula, they usually visit Marine graveyard too.

The cemetery is like a park in the heart of the city of Pula, so it is also frequently visited by locals.

Events and activities at the cemetery

Each year, Marine graveyard hosts numerous events in the remembrance of fallen soldiers in WWI and WWII. Most important yearly events are on the day of the city on 5th May when Austrian Black Cross and other Austrian delegations lay flowers in the special ceremony. Also, there are ceremonies hosted by Hungarian state delegations and ambassadors, the Italian embassy and consulate, and the German Bundeswehr delegation.

Address

Jeretova bb
Pula-Pola 52100
Croatia

Contacts

Email: uprava@montegiro.hr
Phone: +385 99 5456 438
Website: https://www.mg.hr/

Basic information

Year of first burial: 1862
Year of last burial: 1960
Current area: 2ha
Approximate number of graves: 100.000