Friedhofszwang

18:09 Aug 14, 2018 

Yes, I thought my jocular reference may not have been clear enough. Thanks for changing the word.

Enjoy your evening

08:00 Aug 14, 2018 

Sorry Björn, you were too subtle for me. I didn't understand the Whreel of Fortune reference.
The "German Way" website is an interesting and (as you say) ex-pat- written source. Thanks again for your input on this theme!

14:53 Aug 13, 2018 

...was a serious request; when asking questions and creating glossary entries, it'd be nice if the words were spelled correctly. Else, people may not be able to find them.

Best

08:07 Aug 6, 2018 

First, I've been playing Wheel of Fortune and would like to buy an "o" (glossary entry).

Also:
"...it makes sure that the deceased's remains end up in a freely accessible place which anybody can visit..."

Of course, you're right regarding cremation. Else:
"Bei der historisch vorherrschenden Erdbestattung war ein wesentlicher überragender Grund der Schutz vor Krankheiten. Durch die Bestattung aller Verstorbenen auf besonders ausgewiesenen [...] Flächen sollte die Verbreitung von Seuchen unterbunden werden. Im Interesse der Strafrechtspflege soll durch den Friedhofszwang auch die Verschleierung unnatürlicher Todesursachen verhindert werden."
https://www.ottoberg.de/ratgeber/haeufige-fragen/friedhofszw...

I think both are important to note, though. Additionally, here's an ENS (ex-pat) website about it: https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/germany/the-g...

Best

12:53 Aug 4, 2018 

Thanks for all yoir help! In the end I chose a term which was unspecific enough to cover some of the (now) permitted possibilities. I think it is interesting that one of the reasons why people want to hang on to the Friedhofspflicht is that it makes sure that the deceased's remains end up in a freely accessible place which anybody can visit. This is not the case when the ashes are taken to a private house or garden.

14:42 Aug 3, 2018 

IMO your description was fine. Add that there are exceptions to the rule, if you want, and they vary by state, though not much.

https://www.thelocal.de/20160907/germanys-eight-most-weir-la...

https://www.mymoria.de/de/bestattung/bestattungsgesetz-regel...
Friedhofspflicht
In Deutschland gilt die Friedhofspflicht. Diese schreibt vor, dass der Leichnam auf einem dafür vorgesehenen Friedhof beigesetzt werden muss. In einigen Bundesländern wurde das Bestattungsgesetz im Bezug auf die Friedhofspflicht etwas gelockert. In Bremen beispielsweise ist es möglich, die Asche eines Verstorbenen auf einem Privatgrundstück zu verstreuen. Auch Seebestattungen in der Nord- und Ostsee sind mittlerweile ausgenommen von der Friedhofspflicht möglich.

PS I've been to a Friedhof. There are indeed urns buried just like normal graves. It's part of the culture.

13:54 Aug 3, 2018 

Compulsory/Mandatory approved burial method would cover anything allowed, don't you think?

12:11 Aug 3, 2018 

Hallo colleagues! The first answers to come in demonstrate that this question is tricky. As Wendy says, it is not really a Friedhof which is mandatory, however there has to be a "Bestattung" or a "Beisetzung" and not just an "Ausstreuung" of the ashes. In the UK you don't necessarily even have an urn because the ashes are scattered anyway.
But then there is the sea burial, too.
Michael's quoted text is interesting but it is noticeably a translation from the German.
Perhaps I ought to have started out by asking what a "Bestattung" is?