ABSTRACT
This chapter follows the evolution of notable changes in funerary culture in Poland. The formula of the modern funeral rite in Poland is influenced by the burial rituals of the Slavs and by Christian cultural traditions. This chapter presents the essential regulations of Polish law concerning cemeteries. The presented content will refer to the historical perspective of legal regulations and the evolution of Polish legislation. Due to the historical non-existence of Poland in the period from the 18th to the 20th century, the regulations presented here will refer to the post-abolition period. This chapter outlines the main milestones in the development of the funeral industry in Poland, focusing on political and economic issues. Polish undertakers began to form their facilities, as elsewhere in Europe, in the second half of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, there were already modern companies adapted to the needs of the differing expectations of the bourgeoisie. After World War II, the surviving family members of coffin makers renewed their activities by training a new generation, essentially relaunching the industry from scratch. Since the early 1990s the free market has been developing in Poland, and the attendant political and economic changes have influenced funerary practices. This chapter outlines the history of cremation in Poland. Due to the resistance of the Catholic Church in Poland, cremation began much later than in other European countries, something that was also influenced by the association of cremation with concentration camps during the German occupation. This chapter presents a historical outline of cemeteries from the Middle Ages to modern times. It shows the transformation of funerary areas against the background of changes in the mentality of the inhabitants of European countries. The description focuses primarily on Christian cemeteries – mainly Roman Catholic ones, as these turned out to be an important area of development of the broadly understood sepulchral culture of both Europe and Poland.
