The topic comes back almost every year, usually in autumn – it is at the beginning of November that cemeteries experience the greatest siege due to All Saints’ Day. Although it is customary to visit the graves of loved ones on November 1, because it is a public holiday, it was originally supposed to be done on All Souls’ Day (November 2).
But not everyone adheres to these dates. Many people, for example, visit the graves of their loved ones earlier or later, wanting to avoid crowds. This is what a certain reader of “Fakt” did and decided to send a letter to the portal. – Some graves have candles and beautiful bouquets, others have such cards. It’s sad. Who thinks about money on All Saints’ Day? – she wondered in an interview with “Fakt”.
What is it actually about? Notices placed on graves by cemetery management employees announcing that the grave qualifies for liquidation due to unpaid fees. “The administrator of the grave is asked to contact the municipal cemetery office” – this was the content of the announcement at the Łódź cemetery.
Cards in cemeteries all over Poland. What do they mean?
ABOUT . Wrocław’s cemeteries are currently overcrowded and many of them can no longer organize a traditional funeral with a coffin. “It is only possible to bury the urns with ashes in existing graves or in urn fields,” reads information on the website of the Municipal Cemeteries Management Board in Wrocław. At two cemeteries in the city, a traditional burial can take place, for example, in the place of a closed grave – i.e. one that was not paid for by the relatives of the deceased person. “Wyborcza” reports that in this way city necropolises recover up to 300 graves each year.
Liquidation actions are usually carried out in spring and autumn, and the Municipal Cemeteries Management Board warns about it in advance.
We place cards on the graves with information that the fee has not been paid because we have no other form of contact with the families. The costs of sending it by post would be enormous. Meanwhile, before Easter and All Souls’ Day, many people visit cemeteries. After our reminder, they come forward to pay for the grave. Time flies quickly, after 20 years people often don’t remember to do it. These cards may not look good, but they work
– explains Anna Ciesłowska, director of ZCK, in an interview with “Wyborcza” in Wrocław. In a situation where it is not possible to establish contact with the deceased person’s relatives – e.g. when all relatives are dead – the place is reused.
Several hundred graves to be liquidated
As reported by the local website , the mentioned cards also appeared on 500 graves at the Opole-Półwieś cemetery. The messages call for payment of outstanding fees. They also include the telephone number of the cemetery administration – which will make it easier for those in arrears to clarify the issue of uncompleted formalities. “The deadline for resolving these matters before the last opportunity expires is set for the end of November. After this date, the graves will be marked for liquidation, preparing a place for subsequent burials,” informs the 24Opole.pl website.
In turn, on October 24 this year. the management of the city of Białogard in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship warned its residents about this. The published statement emphasized that with All Saints’ Day approaching, it is worth taking care of solving financial issues related to the maintenance of the graves of loved ones.
“At this time, the Municipal and Housing Management Board in Białogard would like to remind the residents of Białogard that the administration of municipal cemeteries in Białogard has started the process of liquidating unpaid graves in cemeteries in Białogard at ul. Chocimska, Połczyńska and in Pękanin,” it was written.
In the cemetery administration office in Pękanin there is a list of graves intended for liquidation. The graves being liquidated are marked with an information board reading ‘grave intended for liquidation’
– indicated.
And now the most important thing: how to avoid such situations? Well, after 20 years of use, the place in the municipal cemetery must be moved a fee extending the inviolability of the earth grave. This deadline must be met, otherwise the burial place of our loved one may be closed and given to someone else. You should find out about the fees, among others: in city offices, as well as on the boards of municipal and parish cemeteries.
Sources: wrocaw.wyborcza.pl/Fakt.pl/24Opole/.pl/Nowiny24.pl
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
