Dear Friends,
Across Europe burial has never been only about farewell; it has been about remembrance, continuity, and respect for generations. For centuries, families cared for burial places - cleaning the stone, lighting a candle, offering flowers - small acts that kept bonds alive between the living and those who came before us. Today , this tradition is quietly changing. Rising costs, busy lives, and smaller families make it difficult for the younger generation to maintain burial places. As a result, many are choosing forest burials - peaceful, natural, and practical. This choice deserves respect. It reflects a modern world seeking simplicity and closeness to nature. Yet, in this transition, something deeply human risks being lost. Graves were not only stones, they were places of memory, where children learned family history, gratitude, and humility. Caring for them taught responsibility, patience, and respect for life itself. When remembrance becomes distant, roots slowly weaken. This message is not against progress, not against forest burials. It is gentle appeal to the younger generation and to European society; do not let remembrance disappear in the name of convenience. Whether through traditional burial or new forms of remembrance, let us ensure that honoring our ancestors remains a shared responsibility, not a forgotten custom. Societies grow stronger when they remember where they come from. This Festive season, as we reflect on life, continuity, and values, may we also reflect on how we remember those who shaped us-and how we pass that sense of respect on to the next generation. With remembrance comes humanity. With humanity comes balance.