More cremations, secular and semi-secular ceremonies: this is how burials have changed

ReusThe way we say goodbye to our loved ones when they die is constantly evolving. While until recently, the vast majority of farewells were Catholic ceremonies ending with a burial, cremations now predominate, and secular ceremonies are constantly growing. This phenomenon is occurring in Catalonia, Spain, and the rest of Europe, as explained this Wednesday by the president of the Association of Funeral Service Companies of Catalonia (Asfuncat), Josep Maria Mons. In total, 51.8% of Catalans who died in 2024 were cremated, which represents an increase of 1.2% compared to 2022 and 8.8% compared to 2018.

Mons noted that this "constant increase" in the number of cremations is a "change in cremations." "More and more people believe it's easier to manage ashes than to have their relatives buried in a cemetery," explained the representative of the association. He also highlighted that there are more and more crematoriums (there are 48 in Catalonia, including the one recently opened in Valls), so this option is becoming easier.

Within Asfuncat, there are public, private, and mixed funeral companies, and they are representative of the entire sector. The companies that are part of this association managed 58,437 deaths last year out of the 62,687 mourned throughout Catalonia, that is, 93.2% of the total. The data presented this Tuesday at the Reus Chamber of Commerce are part of the 2024 Report on the Funeral Sector in Catalonia, but do not include deaths from the Lleida district, the management of which has not yet been submitted to the association.

Among the changes experienced by Catalan burials, the increase in secular ceremonies also stands out, which now represent 21.5% of the total and have grown four-tenths compared to 2022. Religious ceremonies are 57.7%, and 20.8% are in charge of funeral services.

Secular and tailor-made

Mons argues that behind this trend is the fact that "society has fewer and fewer religious beliefs." According to the 2023 macro-survey on religiosity by the Center for Opinion Studies (CEO), Catholics represent 57% of the population, and atheists and agnostics now account for 27%. But there are other explanations as well. The president of the employers' association points out that "there are religious families who believe that the ceremony doesn't have to be Catholic, because if it's secular, they can intervene more." Religious ceremonies are strongly influenced by liturgy, while secular ones can be organized more tailored to each family, with photographs of the deceased, live music, and so on. There are also ceremonies of other religions, although they are a very small minority. The second religion in Catalonia is Islam (7%), and the majority of Muslims organize ceremonies in mosques, so they are not counted by funeral homes, which simply transport the body to wherever the family requests.

Other changes that are transforming ceremonies are online connections. Streaming ceremonies began during the pandemic and have been growing. There is also an increasing number of people seeking some joy or a memento with the ashes of the deceased. All of this is part of the extra services offered by companies in the sector. There are also more and more people who record the ceremony and then edit the video to create a small memento between 3 and 4 minutes long. These extras increase the income of a sector that in Catalonia (always excluding Lleida) had a turnover of 231 million euros last year.

Dying costs a lot of money. On average, a cremation ceremony costs 4,300 euros. 21% of the cost of dying is VAT, and the sector criticizes that, according to the law, funeral homes offer an essential service, but at the same time must bear a disproportionate tax burden. The sector is demanding that the 21% rate be reduced to 10%.