Spring events at Brussels Cemeteries 2025

Check out the latest issue of Epitaaf's publication Tafofiel and explore the events program taking place at Brussels' cemeteries this spring.

Cemeteries as cultural spaces

Cemeteries are transforming into vibrant cultural spaces that bring together history, heritage, and community. Far from being places of silence alone, they host a wide variety of public activities that invite reflection, discovery, and participation. These events reflect a growing awareness of the role cemeteries play not only as places of remembrance but also as shared cultural landscapes. They contribute to making heritage more accessible and meaningful to all generations.

Spring events at Brussels Cemeteries

This spring, cemeteries across Brussels are hosting a variety of events that highlight the significance of these spaces. Discover the full overview of activities in the latest edition of Tafofiel, the official publication of the Epitaaf association.

You can download Tafofiel 66 (in Dutch) HERE.

All Saints Day 2024: Cultural activities in Barcelona

For this year's All Saints Day, Cementiris de Barcelona organized unique events at city cemeteries.

First night route at Sarrià Cemetery

The Sarrià Cemetery night route was offered for the first time, allowing visitors to discover one of the lesser-known cemeteries in Barcelona. 

Through remarkable pantheons, participants learn about the history of the ancient town of Sarrià and its connection to Barcelona. We also learned about notable figures from the worlds of culture and science who have made their mark on history, along with other fascinating details about one of the city’s smallest cemeteries. 

The walkway was marked with candles.

Live Music of Cors Clavé

On 1 November, at 11:30 a.m., a concert was held in homage to Josep Anselm Clavé, with the choirs Agrupació Coral La Pau from Barcelona and SC Les Veus de la Virreina from Tiana performing at Clavé's tomb in Poblenou Cemetery.

Mexican altar at Poblenou Cemetery

Mexican funeral traditions are culturally rich, and Mexican altars play an important role in households to commemorate deceased family members. A Mexican altar was organized in memory of Josep Anselm Clavé on the 150th anniversary of his death.

The tree of remembrance

We invited everyone who visits the Poblenou Cemetery to hang a card with a message for a loved one they would like to remember and pay tribute to.

Inauguration of the exhibition "Cementiris Tàpies"

"Cementiri Tàpies" is part of an artistic and educational project that combines artistic creation with arts education, paying tribute to Antoni Tàpies, a renowned artist closely connected to the city of Barcelona.

The exhibition "Cementiri Tàpies" is part of the international "Cementiris" project by artist Ricard Huerta. The aim is to highlight cemeteries as valuable heritage sites, emphasizing heritage education. The creative aspect addresses the need for university students to engage with these sites, rich in heritage and memory.

At each location where the exhibition and publication are presented, a universal figure is chosen to represent the theme. Antoni Tàpies, a key figure for Barcelona and an influential artist and theorist, serves as this figure. Ricard Huerta’s paintings are based on Tàpies' writings, particularly passages that reference death, cemeteries, and memory, integrating Tàpies into the "Cementiris" project. This exhibition not only reaches students but also engages the public, making it a tribute to Tàpies.

The exhibition opened on October 25 at 4 p.m. and will be available for viewing until January 12, before moving to Les Corts Cemetery and eventually to Poblenou Cemetery.

Educational activities for kids at Vienna Central Cemetery

Discover the diverse program of interesting and educational activities for children, taking place at the Vienna Central Cemetery in 2024.

150 years of Vienna Central Cemetery

In 2024, Vienna Central Cemetery celebrates its 150th anniversary. To mark this significant milestone, a year-long program of special activities has been organized, placing a strong emphasis on the official WDEC 2024 theme Environmental sustainability and climate change. 

Since the cemetery is also an active participant in the Schools on Cemeteries project, there are many activities tailored specifically for schools and children of all ages. A selection of these activities is highlighted below, while the entire program can be found at this LINK.

Open Beehive Day

What's buzzing there? The bees of the Vienna Central Cemetery are in their spring dress. The beekeepers are at least as hard-working as the bees themselves and are happy to be able to offer a colorful program.

There is a lot to learn, for example about the importance of bees for the environment and pollination of plants, about the development and lifestyle of bees and of course about beekeeping. What are bee products like beeswax, propolis and royal jelly?

We are offering craft stations for children and small snacks and drinks available.

Art Adventure Workshops

In this workshop we paint in acrylic and with fluorescent night-glow paints on canvas.

In the inspiring surroundings of Vienna's Central Cemetery, we create a cool picture that is reminiscent of the unique workshop even weeks after it was created.

Urban Gardening Workshops

Important basics on watering, mulching, hoeing, fertilizing and weeding in organic vegetable growing. Determining soil composition with simple tests: which soil should I work with? Seasonal calendar: Basics of how a gardening season works, what happens when? Use of home remedies in the garden and basic knowledge of identifying beneficial insects and pests as well as recognizing important characteristics of vegetable plants. 

With a joint open question and answer session/exchange.

The sound of birds

Not only the dreamy voices of blackbirds can be admired at the Vienna Central Cemetery, but also, depending on the weather and season, owls, swifts, marsh harriers and sometimes the rare hoopoe with its magnificent headdress.

It's best to come equipped with binoculars or a keen ear to get to know the diverse world of birds that use the central cemetery as their refuge.

Cemetery nature for kids

The natural garden of the Vienna Central Cemetery is a very special place. Its extensive, natural meadows provide a protected habitat for numerous animals. We are sure to hear it chirping, fluttering and rustling in the bushes and, with a bit of luck, see deer, field hamsters, hedgehogs, pheasants and butterflies.

This natural paradise is also perfect for getting to know lots of wild herbs, bushes and trees in a playful way and discovering with all our senses what they can be used for. Which plants are edible, which are used as medicine, as a fragrance or even for making clothes.

 A cozy herbal picnic concludes our nature exploration tour.

WDEC 2024 at cemeteries in Maribor

We present to you the program of activities that will take place at the Maribor cemeteries during the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024.

International initiative on sustainability

The focus of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries is on the dedication of cemeteries to environmental sustainability and fight against climate change. In this context, Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, the presiding member of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), in collaboration with the Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia (ZKGS), has prepared a national initiative featuring various year-round activities focused on environmental sustainability. A key component of this initiative is the invitation to cemetery managers to plant sample graves with drought-resistant plants at their cemeteries.

All members of GZS chamber have already been invited to participate, and quite a few have responded positively to the initiative.

As an example to others, Pogrebno podjetje Maribor has prepared its program for the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries based on this initiative. Below are the projects, events, and activities on this topic that will take place at the Dobrava Cemetery and Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia.

WDEC 2024 at Dobrava Cemetery

➤ Planting nectar-rich plants – an invaluable forage for bees and other pollinators.

➤ Installation of beehives in May 2024.

WDEC 2024 at Pobrežje Cemetery

➤ Planting nectar-rich plants – an invaluable forage for bees and other pollinators.

➤ Arrangement of three sample graves with plants that tolerate drought and require less watering. The sample graves will be marked with special plaques. Implementation is in progress.

➤ A flower and floral arrangement exhibition, showcasing plants resistant to drought, will be held in front of the Cvetličarna Aralija flower shop, located at the entrance of Pobrežje Cemetery, from May 27th to June 1st.

➤ On May 28th, a cultural day will take place at the Pobrežje Cemetery for students from Tone Čufar Primary School Maribor. The event will feature presentations on the ARtour mobile application and sustainable solutions implemented at the cemetery.

➤ On May 28th at 5:30 PM, an event in collaboration with the Maribor Multigenerational Center (VGC Maribor) will take place in the multipurpose hall at the Pobrežje Cemetery. The event will host a round table discussion focusing on sustainable development in funeral and cemetery services, examining various generational perspectives with a particular emphasis on youth.The event will conclude at 7 PM with a guided tour showcasing the sustainable initiatives implemented at the Pobrežje Cemetery. This will include visits to sustainably arranged sample graves, areas planted with nectar-rich plants and other bee-friendly initiatives, discussions on biodiversity at the cemetery, and a presentation of the ARtour application. As part of this event, VGC Maribor will conduct a survey among both younger and older attendees to gather their perceptions of sustainability in funeral services. The survey results will be discussed during the round table discussion.

Drought-resistant grave planting

Below, you can see some sample graves at Pobrežje Cemetery that have been cleaned, arranged, and planted with drought-resistant plants. They are also marked with special boards describing the project and listing the plants planted on each specific grave.