Funeral customs and traditions of the people of Malaga: the Garden of Remembrance is already taking root

The tradition of visiting cemeteries for All Saints' Day and especially All Souls' Day on November 1 and 2 remains steadfast against the Halloween invasion. In any case, it's always a good time to analyze the customs and practices of the people of Malaga when undertaking their final journey. Annual data from Parcemasa, the public company of the Malaga City Council, provide a clear snapshot: cremations are now almost universal, and the majority of services are religious. Additionally, new trends are emerging, such as reserving a space in the Garden of Remembrance.

To summarize, in Malaga city, a complete cremation service starts at 2,454 euros

This option essentially involves choosing a tree that relatives find suitable to represent the deceased. The Garden covers 500,000 square meters of green areas and offers a space that also serves walkers, readers, or simply the curious. It was established in 2016 and already has 613 concessions.

828

Malaga residents rest under a tree in the Garden of Remembrance.

The Garden of Remembrance, a five-hectare space set up in 2016 by the Malaga City Council through the municipal company Malaga Cemetery Park (Parcemasa), in the San Gabriel cemetery where families can deposit the ashes of a loved one under a tree they feel most connected with, currently has a total of 613 concessions and 828 urns are deposited. This is because each plot can have several deceased.

Which trees are chosen? The olive tree is the most popular, but there are already a hundred species, including poplars, cork oaks, carob trees, walnut trees, orange trees, fig trees, jacarandas, oaks, willows, or strawberry trees. Additionally, a new landscaped area has recently been enabled where ashes can also be deposited.

80.5%

of Malaga residents choose cremation.

Cremations now account for more than 80% of funeral services in Malaga. So far this year, Parcemasa has carried out 3,560 cremations out of a total of 4,425 services. There have been 865 burials.

Other figures indicate that this year there have been 3,934 room occupations. An estimated one and a half million people have passed through the cemetery, based on vehicle access (500,000).

2,114

people have been assisted by the Psychology Cabinet, a free service that can be individual or group.

Another rising trend is the use of the free Psychology Cabinet service. They offer specific grief therapies both individually and collectively. So far this year, 2,114 people have been attended to, of whom 704 were involved in room intervention.

Dying also involves a family budget. The service menu and options offer endless possibilities. And, in difficult times, it can be a significant added stress and overwhelming. To summarize, in Malaga city, a complete cremation service starts at 2,454 euros. This includes transfer within the municipality, coffin and shroud, preparation room, thanato-room, floral arrangement, religious service, cremation and reduction, urn, and management and processing of documents. If the option is burial, it is 2,278 for a five-year niche. Everything else is extra.

1,800

euros to rest under a tree if the specimen did not previously exist. Additionally, there's an annual maintenance fee of 20 euros and 150 euros for an inscription.

There are more budget curiosities: removing a pacemaker from a deceased costs 150 euros; thanato-aesthetic services, 95.13; autopsy room, 156.33, and boxes for remains, 59.19 or 108.24. Reliquaries, transfers, exhumations, sheets, shrouds, guest books, extensions, management of obituaries, death certificates... The list is extensive.

If you choose to rest under a tree, the price varies depending on whether it already existed or is planted: 1,000 and 1,800 euros respectively. To this, an annual maintenance fee of 20 euros and a 150 euro inscription fee must be added if desired.

Religion Prevails

Despite the social trend of declining ceremonies like weddings or baptisms, the latest available data indicate that about 90% of funeral rites are still religious. In this case, Parcemasa also offers an ecumenical room, adapted for civil services and other confessions.

What is no longer possible is to take a break in the cafeteria, which had to close last summer due to the liquidation of the company, mired in debt and ending up in bankruptcy and being liquidated. In its place, there is a space with vending machines. The sign of the times.

Buses, Customer Service, and Schedules

The cemeteries of the capital have extended their hours since last weekend. Similarly, the EMT has reinforced line 23 (Alameda Principal-El Cónsul-Cemetery Park).

Regarding the schedules, the San Gabriel cemetery and the Garden of Remembrance remain open continuously from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The cemeteries of San Juan (El Palo), San Antonio (Churriana), Olías, and San Miguel are open from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM.

For its part, the Parcemasa offices in the San Gabriel cemetery are open this weekend from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM for usual incidents and management and until 3:00 PM for general information.

Beyond visiting loved ones, the cemeteries offer a complete cultural agenda throughout this first weekend of November.