WDEC 2023 at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin

Don't miss out on the wide variety of events that will take place in Turin, Italy, during this year's WDEC.

Events program

➤ 22 May - 10 June 2023: “Rainbows” TTL valorisation activity of Utilitalia SEFIT

➤ 30 - 31 May 2023, at 9.00: The "Terza Missione" Project "Whisper: "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures" by the UNITED - Department of Humanistic Studies.

➤ 3 June 2023, at 10.00: Guided tour "Names, steps, history and art at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin" with Luisa Boscolo.

➤ 3 June 2023, at 16.30: Guided tour "Art and History at the Turin cemetery".

➤ 4 June 2023, at 10.00: Guided tour "Symbols, curiosities and oddities at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin".

➤ 4 June 2023, at 16.30: Guided tour "Art and History at the Turin cemetery".

➤ 6 June 2023, at 14.30: Guided tour to the Jewish fields.

➤ 9 - 12 June 2023, at 16.30: Special event "Archivissima Extra 2023 Carnet de voyage" #change.

➤ 10 June 2023, at 14.30: Open house Turin: the Monumental Cemetery.

➤ 10 June 2023, at 14.30: Open house Turin: the Monumental Cemetery.

Additional information about each event can be found at this LINK.

WDEC 2023 at the Ford Park Cemetery

Ford Park Cemetery in Plymouth, UK, is supporting a special awareness week, promoting the life-enhancing benefits that cemeteries offer to the community.

As a proud member of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), Ford Park Cemetery is echoing the key message of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2023, starting on 26th May.

Naturally many only think of cemeteries as being a place for those whose lives have ceased but nothing could be further from the reality.

Trustee Wendy Coulton said: “Our cemetery is very much a community hub for a wide range of activities and opportunities for volunteering. We connect with different groups and individuals who are interested in what our cemetery has to offer in addition to the funerals which take place.

Walking and making time to take a breath and notice what is around us in nature is recognised as a tonic for our mental and physical health and wellbeing. We organise guided themed walks around the cemetery throughout the year but the cemetery is open to anyone who appreciates having a beautiful green space in the heart of a city. Walking a lap or more of our 34 acre site can work wonders for your mood.

For those who love gardening - which again is acknowledged for its therapeutic benefits - or who just want to get more active we have simple light tasks around the cemetery which help us to keep it maintained.

And of course connecting with people keeps loneliness from social isolation at bay. Friendships are formed and there are untold rewards from giving your time and skills to a good cause such as our cemetery which is run by a charitable trust.

So next time you pass our cemetery, come in and see for yourself why it serves the living as much as those who have passed.”

The ladies in the photo come together every Wednesday morning to knit, crochet and make crafts which are then sold at our events to raise funds for our work here at Ford Park Cemetery. It’s also a much valued opportunity to catch up with like-minded people over a cuppa.

*Main photo source: www.wikipedia.org

WDEC 2023: Cemeteries for health and wellbeing

This year, the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries celebrates the life-enhancing properties of the cities of the dead.

People think cemeteries are for the deceased, but they are for the living too. Connecting people with cemeteries can improve their wellbeing, mental health and quality of life. And therefore, this year, the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, taking place from 26 May to 4 June, will celebrate the life-enhancing properties of the cities of the dead.

Participating cemeteries are invited to come up with activities which enable people to: 

Connect

• Build togetherness through emotional responses to shared experiences.
• Share knowledge, reminiscences and stories using community events to break down barriers and learn from others.
• Connect through food with a memory café.
• Create opportunities for people to collaborate, regardless of who they are.

Be Active

• Spend time learning about nature.
• Go on a health walk with family, friends, neighbours… or strangers.

Take Notice

• Spend some time being still and quiet, experiencing the cemetery environment in all its tranquillity with no mobile phones.
• Go for a walk in the natural space, look, listen, smell and touch. Wander and become enchanted. Switch off and take it slow.
• Seek out a magical moment of personal discovery

Keep Learning

• Encourage creativity: make something to take home as a tangible memory.
• Host learning activities for schools, families, singletons and older people… everybody.

Give

• Volunteer with a cemetery friends group.

Share your activities

We invite you to send us the programs, photos and other materials of your planned activities during WDEC 2023 to the email admin@significantcemeteries.org. We will be happy to publish them on the ASCE website and social networks.