Poetry reading at the Cemetery of Mühlau

On June 15, 2024, the event “Living in the light of eternity” took place at the Cemetery of Mühlau in Innsbruck, Austria.

About the event

On June 15, 2024, a unique poetry reading event titled "Living in the Light of Eternity" was held at the Cemetery of Mühlau in Innsbruck, Austria. The event commenced at 20:00 with readings of texts by Paul Fülöp and poems by Alexander Legniti.

Accompanying the readings were musical performances by Gabriele Goller on the flute and Hesen Berzencî on the Oud lute. Adding a silent yet expressive element to the evening, pantomime artist Franz Unger performed without uttering a word.

It was a very special event and everyone present really enjoyed being part of it.

The Memorial Easter at the Volintiri Cemetery

A significant traditional event where the entire community gathers at the cemetery to honor and remember those who have passed away.

Preparations for the event

In Volintiri, Paștele Blajinilor (The Easter of those who passed away or Memorial Easter) is a particularly important holiday, similar to the tradition throughout the entire country of Moldova.

Preparations for this day begin about a month in advance when people visit the cemetery to clean the graves of their deceased loved ones. These activities include painting crosses, pulling weeds, planting flowers, and, in some cases, drawing crosses from sand. During this period, the town hall organizes a general cemetery cleanup, ensuring that the resting place of the dearly departed is well-maintained.

Traditional customs on Memorial Easter

On Paștele Blajinilor, which takes place on the eighth day after Easter, the community gathers at the cemetery early in the morning. People bring cozonaci (a type of sweet bread) and red eggs, which they place on the graves, and then, after the memorial service, they offer these items to others for the souls of the departed. 

Nowadays, the tradition has become more complex, with items such as cups, plates, scarves, socks, and sweets also being given in memory of the deceased. Recently, there has been a call for the community to return to the ancestral traditions, bringing only cozonaci, red eggs, and candles, which are given to the needy.

Candles are lit on the graves in a glass of wine, which at the end of the service is poured over the graves in the sign of the cross. This day is a moment of reunion for the relatives of the deceased and the only time when the entire community gathers in such large numbers. The priest conducts a memorial service in the middle of the cemetery and reads lists with the names of the deceased, while relatives stand by the graves, listening to the service and commemorating those who have passed away. When the priest sings "Veșnica Pomenire" (Eternal Remembrance), everyone approaches their relatives' graves and lifts the cozonaci several times, after which the gifts brought to the graves are offered to those present in the cemetery. Often, there is an exchange of gifts between neighbours and relatives.

Later, many people leave in groups to one of their relatives' homes to have a meal and remember those who have passed away, while others still spread the dishes right in the cemetery and dine with their relatives there.

AGM 2024: Sign up

It's time to sign up for the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2024, taking place from 19 to 21 September in Budapest, Hungary.

About the AGM and Conference 2024

The program will take place at multiple locations with the Conference venue being the Hungarian National Museum, one of the most prestigious locations in the country.

2 days of European significant cemetery life are about to be revealed along with discovering various monuments, stories and heritage sites of Budapest. Over 20 authors are expected to provide their insights on the challenges and solutions of "Cemeteries as Cultural Spaces of European Remembrance".

Take a look at the splendid event program, conference theme, some accommodation suggestions and registration fee price list at THIS LINK.

Sign up and registration payment for AGM 2024

Applications for the AGM and Conference 2024 will be possible until July 26, 2024, by using the following sign up form. Please read carefully the instructions below before applying.

➤SIGN UP FORM

If you wish to register more than one person, the form must be completed for each person separately.

After that, each registered person will receive the information for paying the registration fee to the entered email address (price list here). The payment can be made for several people at once. After the payment has been made, you will receive an invoice by regular mail, which is valid as a ticket to the event.

In order to ensure the smooth running of the event, the number of participants will be limited.

For any questions, please contact István Kovács at budapestasce@nori.gov.hu.

"The whisper of the (paper) models" event and a literary contest

Attend a special event at the Cemetery agli Allori in Florence, Italy, on June 10, 2024, and participate in an engaging literary contest.

About the event

On June 10, 2024, at 9 PM, a special event titled "The Whisper of the (Paper) Models" will take place at the Cemetery agli Allori in Florence, Italy, as a tribute to Giovanni Battista Giorgini and to celebrate the essence of “Made in Italy”. The event will feature a contemporary dance performance, a flute performance, a recital, an exhibition, a poetry reading, and more.

You can find the entire program HERE.

Literary contest

Additionally, don't miss the literary contest “Incipitojo {ad uso di starvi a fantasiar}”. Based on the outdoor exhibition of imaginary book covers, taking place at the Cemetery agli Allori and the English Cemetery in Florence, we invite you to craft literary works inspired by these covers.

Submissions should be no more than 5.400 characters, including spaces, and must be sent by July 14, 2024, to www.incipitojo.it/concorso. Participation is free, and the awards ceremony will take place on October 24, 2024, at the Gabinetto Scientifico Letterario G.P. Vieusseux.

WDEC 2024 at the Cemetery of the Observance

On June 1st, 2024, a free guided tour took place at the Cemetery of the Observance in Faenza, Italy, as part of the WDEC 2024.

About the event

On the occasion of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024, a free guided tour was held at the Cemetery of the Observance in Faenza, Itay, on Saturday, June 1st, 2024, at 4 PM. The tour explored and re-discovered the Observance cemetery, its history, works of art and landscape, after the floods which affected Faenza and the Romagna territory in May 2023.

The event was organised by the Municipality of Faenza in collaboration with Pro loco Faenza APS.

Highlights from the WDEC 2024 in Krakow

A short overview and some photos from the guided walk that took place on 31 May 2023 at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow, Poland.

About the event

Over sixty people took part in the guided walk at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries. After a short introduction about the history of the cemetery established in 1900, participants visited eleven graves of well-known people buried at this cemetery: actors, musicians, scouts, sculptors and football players.

Guides were members and friends of Association PODGORZE.PL, which was the organiser of this walk.

More about the event at www.podgorze.pl.

WDEC 2024 at the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery

As part of WDEC 2024, high school students attended a guided tour at the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery in Karlovac, Croatia.

About the event

In Karlovac, as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, the company Zelenilo organized a free tour of the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery, led by expert tourist guide Ivančica Šebalj.

This year's tour of the Dubovac Cemetery, which has been a member of ASCE since 2014, was attended by students from the high school of forestry and woodworking in Karlovac. They listened intently to the interesting and instructive stories shared by Ivančica Šebalj.

The students also planted a cypress tree at the cemetery, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change.

WDEC 2024 in Piran

The President of ASCE attended a roundtable discussion in Piran, Slovenia, organized as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC) 2024.

About the event

On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Tartini House in the city of Piran, Slovenia, hosted a roundtable discussion titled "Who Oversees the Restoration of Graves," focusing on the Piran Historical Cemetery.

The event was organized by the public company Okolje Piran in collaboration with the Italian Self-Governing Community of Piran and the Community of Italians “Giuseppe Tartini” Piran, as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024.

Lidija Pliberšek, President of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), was among the key participants, in addition to Kristjan Knez, Nadia Zigante, Aljoša Pucer, Sandra Martinčič Loboda, Mateja Kvčič, and Mateja Hafner Dolenc.

The session opened with welcoming speeches from Fulvia Zudič, President of SI Giuseppe Tartini, Christian Poletti, Deputy Mayor of Piran, Giovanni Coviello, General Consul of Italy in Koper, and Andrea Bartole, President of the Italian Self-Governing Community of Piran.

The event aimed to discuss and ensure proper supervision of grave restorations, preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the region.

Photos from the event

WDEC 2024 at the Verano Monumental Cemetery

Welcome to Rome! Experience the beauty of nature, art, history, and culture at the Verano Monumental Cemetery from May 25 to June 2, 2024.

About the Verano Monumental Cemetery

The Verano Cemetery is a place that, in addition to preserving the memory and the historical, artistic, and cultural heritage of the community, offers unique naturalistic, biodiversity, and landscape riches. The ever-increasing number of passionate visitors to Verano confirms the consideration enjoyed by this open-air park-museum, where you can walk immersed in nature and art, take a bike ride, move slowly in silence and contemplation, and discover surprising stories. It is not just a place of burial and memory, but a refuge and comfort zone offering environmental, physical, and spiritual well-being for communities, citizens, and tourists.

WDEC program: "Strolls through Memories", recitations and special events

Experience 12 free cultural events at Verano, spread over four days, each offering different thematic paths. Every day, the schedule features three events, some of which are enhanced by a unique blend of storytelling, acting, listening to musical pieces on headphones, and engaging with the voices of characters encountered along the routes.

► Saturday, 25 May

10.00: The City of Verano. Three generations of architects and urban planners
11.00: Inaugural event. Voices in the Wind. An audio guide for the Verano
12.00: Italian Theater, from stage to TV. Conducted and performed by actress Sabina Barzilai

► Sunday, 26 May

10.00: Rome and the stories on Cinema
11.00: The Seven Arts at Verano
12.00: Faces and Memories of Rome

► Saturday, 1 June

10.00: Urban trekking. Nature, history and landscape at the Verano Monumental Cemetery
11.00: Audacious Women. Stories of unique women from the Roman Republic to the Italian Republic
12.00: Italian Theater, from stage to TV. Conducted and performed by actress Sabina Barzilai

► Sunday, 2 June

10.00: Twentieth century. The passions of women and men of the "short century"
11.00: Audacious Women. Stories of unique women from the Roman Republic to the Italian Republic
12.00: Urban trekking. Nature, history and landscape at the Verano Monumental Cemetery

About the inaugural event "Voices in the wind" (25 May)

It is a PCTO project (paths for transversal skills and orientation) of the students of the Istituto Superiore Statale Cine Tv Rossellini, managed by the Io Sono Aps Association, winner of the Public Notice promoted by Roma Capitale in collaboration with Zètema Progetto Cultura and AMA Capitoline Cemeteries.

The audio guide, created by the students of the Rossellini Institute and based on texts and historical research by Alessandra Evangelisti, Federica Chiusole, and Cristina Cassese, is an exciting multi-voiced story that will accompany visitors in discovering parts of Verano. The audio guide will be permanently available to the public free of charge. Visitors can use it on their smartphones with an active internet connection and earphones by scanning the QR code located at the Verano Cemetery entrance.

About the Urban trekking event (1-2 June)

The Verano as a landscape asset is a synthesis of nature, history, and architecture. Enjoy an evocative walk through the greenery, encountering the most important and centuries-old botanical species, guided by a technician from the Environmental Protection Department of Rome Capital and an art historian.

About the Audacious Women event (1-2 June)

Italian Republic Day is celebrated in memory of outstanding women whose lives were defined by radical and emancipatory choices, transcending conventions and proposing new models of female identity. These women were unique for their heroism, civil and social commitment, and cultural legacy. The guided tour is enriched by readings recited by the actress Sabina Barzilai and music played through headphones.

Additional information

• “Strolls through Memories" are guided tours that take place on foot and last 2 hours.
• They are conducted by specialized guides and are audio-assisted using microphones and earphones.
• All scheduled initiatives are free of charge with reservations required.
• For information, insights and reservations click HERE.

Discover more

• Find out more in the Verano cultural visits web app - itinerary maps and brochures, biographical insights and photo gallery.
• Follow us on the AMA. Culture at Verano YouTube channel.
• Visit Verano with the APP ARTOUR. 

WDEC 2024 at the Drenova Cemetery

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024 in Rijeka, held from May 14 to 31, was dedicated to the horticulture at Rijeka's largest cemetery, Drenova.

Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change

The theme of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries was "Environmental sustainability and climate change".

Members of ASCE and other European cemeteries are determined allies in the collective fight against climate change. For years, they have been working on mitigating its effects through a wide range of actions and initiatives that demonstrate a strong commitment to the environment. Their activities include responsible use of fossil fuels and water, integrating renewable energy sources, respecting the biological diversity of cemetery plants and fauna, improving native vegetation, responsible waste management, and electrifying their vehicle fleets.

This year's WDEC aimed to raise awareness about the importance of addressing climate change through various events and activities, showcasing different ways in which cemeteries and their visitors can contribute to reducing the negative impact on the environment.

Week of Discovering European Cemeteries in Rijeka

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries in Rijeka was celebrated from May 14th to May 31st.

The program began on Monday, May 14th, with the grand opening of an exhibition displayed on pedestals along Korzo. The exhibition introduced residents and visitors to the rich horticulture of Rijeka's largest cemetery, Drenova, highlighting its connection to the natural environment.

Horticulture is a valuable aspect of every cemetery, receiving special attention in maintenance, landscaping, and enhancement. Our cemeteries serve as urban parks. The diverse horticultural species, carefully planned and arranged, invite visitors to enjoy relaxing walks. These spaces create intimate areas enriched with vibrant colors, shapes, and scents, as well as numerous geometric forms of plants that intertwine and complement the diverse terrain, creating an extraordinary natural dynamic within the cemetery.

The program continued on Monday, May 27th, at 6:00 PM with a tour of the Drenova Cemetery, accompanied by musical performances by students of the Ivan Matetić Ronjov Music School under the guidance of their mentors. The event also featured a display of photographs of plant species and an educational walk led by Mr. Goran Huljenić, mag.ing.silv., from Urbani šumari d.o.o. Novo Čiče.

The remaining days were reserved for individual visits and tours of the cemetery, assisted by the ARTOUR mobile application.

Event photos: