"The recently established 'Scholargrave' in Mainz"
A new burial option, known as the "Schorlegraber," has been introduced in Mainz, Germany, as part of the city's district cemetery. The innovative concept allows people to be buried with a small bottle of Schorle—a popular German drink—in their graves.
The Schorlegraber was created as a playful and locally meaningful alternative to more traditional burial customs, reflecting Mainz’s cultural identity and social traditions. The new grave field in Laubenheim's district cemetery, which manages this unique burial option, has space for 72 urn choice graves and 36 urn row graves.
A Tribute to Local Identity and Tradition
Mainz is renowned for its wine culture and social gatherings where Schorle is commonly enjoyed. The Schorlegraber reflects this local heritage in a lighthearted and personal way, providing a regional connection and a theme that has connected people during their lifetime.
Personalized Burial Practices
In recent times, modern funerals and burials increasingly accommodate personal tastes and individual expressions. The Schorlegraber allows people to incorporate something uniquely symbolic and familiar into their final resting place.
Encouraging a Positive Perspective on Death
By including a bottle of Schorle, the idea is to foster a more relaxed, celebratory, or humorous attitude toward death and remembrance, rather than exclusively solemn or somber approaches.
A Place of Mourning and Remembrance
According to Jeanette Wetterling, CEO of the Economic Operations Mainz, cemeteries are primarily places of mourning, silence, and remembrance. The new grave field in Laubenheim's district cemetery, as well as the other 12 cemeteries under the management of the Mainz cemetery administration, serves this purpose.
Meeting the Wishes of Local People
The creation of this burial option in Laubenheim is to meet the wishes of local people, as stated by Wetterling. Five rows of nine vine stocks with Sauvignon Gries have been planted in the new grave field, further emphasizing the regional connection and personal touch of the Schorlegraber.
This new grave field has been created on the district cemetery in Laubenheim, and the Schorlegraber burial option is now possible in the first district of Laubenheim. The cemetery administration of Mainz is responsible for managing this new burial option, offering a unique and meaningful choice for those seeking a connection to their local community in their final resting place.
The Schorlegraber, with its home-and-garden element of vine stocks, underscores Mainz's social lifestyle deeply rooted in wine culture. This innovative economic and social policy encourages a personalized lifestyle extension even in death, catering to local preferences and traditions.
