The urn has been with us for well over 7,000 years, with the oldest known examples being unearthed in China. Today, with the cost of a traditional funeral rising and burial plots becoming scarcer and more expensive than ever the urn, and in particular the custom cremation urn, is steadily rising in popularity. At Paykoc we offer cremation urns in a variety of compelling styles and sizes with brass, antique brass, polished brass or nickel finishes. Each can be completely customized with whatever imagery, graphic flourishes, and text you require to produce a lasting and tasteful memorial for your loved one.

Custom Cremation Urns: A Brief History

Cremation urns have been unearthed in Late Stone Age settlements in Central Europe that are believed to date to at least 3,000 BC. Similar discoveries have been made in the Near East. By the advent of the Bronze Age around 2,500 - 2,000 BC the practice of cremation had spread to the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula as well.

The ancient Greeks made cremation an integral part of their burial rituals and produced some of the most elaborate custom cremation urns ever seen. Part of the reason for the popularity of cremation in the Greek Isles had to do with the rocky nature of the landscape, which often made burial impractical.

The rise of Rome - and the tendency of the Romans to appropriate Greek culture wholesale - meant that cremation and elaborate custom cremation urns became an important aspect of Roman culture as well. Indeed, during the early days of the Roman Republic, the practice had become so commonplace that laws had to be passed, limiting the number of cremations in the city.

When the Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD, both public and private attitudes toward cremation began to shift. Early Christians considered it to be a pagan practice, and over the years it slowly fell out of favor. For more than 1,500 years, burial became the preferred method of dealing with the remains of the deceased.

The shift back toward cremation began around the turn of the 20th century. And today its popularity continues to rise for a number of good reasons. Including the production of high-quality, affordable cremation urns and refinements in the crematory process.

Urns v Burial

The decision whether to conduct a tradition burial or a cremation is yours and yours alone. But here are some of the benefits of each process you may want to consider:

Benefits of Cremation

• It’s typically less costly than burial, although you’ll want to beware of hidden charges.
• You can still have a funeral service if you wish and conduct the cremation afterward.
• It's a less time-consuming process than a traditional funeral and burial.
• Burial plots can be hard to find and very expensive, especially in and around cities.
• Should you move, the ashes can be taken with you wherever you go.
• It’s considered a more environmentally friendly alternative.
• You have a range of options regarding what to do with the ashes. You can hold onto some while scattering some in an important place, for instance.

With custom cremation urns you also have the option of either burying the urn in a burial plot with headstone, sealing it away in a columbarium at the cemetery of your choice or keeping the ashes close to you.

Benefits of Traditional Burial

Provides a fixed location for family and friends to visit.

It’s required by certain religions.

The burial ritual provides more closure for some people.

The burial process certainly has centuries of tradition on its side. Although cemetery plots are increasing in price as space becomes more limited.

Personalized Cremation Urns from Paykoc

Our beautiful and timeless cremation urns lend themselves perfectly to all manner of customization. Our state of the art laser engravers and the highly skilled technicians who operate them can create a custom cremation urn your family will treasure for generations and which will make a fitting repository and memorial for your loved one.

When it comes to the engraving process, virtually anything is possible from astonishing imagery, to intricate graphic design, to graceful and evocative script. Whatever is on your mind, just ask us about it. Our urns are 6, 7, 8 or 10 inches in height and are available in a number of different styles and finishes, including polished brass, antique brass and high polished nickel. Each is competitively priced and made to stand the test of time.

Do Your Loved One Proud With a Custom Urn from Paykoc

Choosing the right cremation urn is an important decision. And making sure the company can customize it in a way that honors your loved one in the most respectful and tasteful way is equally important. At Paykoc, we invested a lot of time and effort into making sure we can offer our customers the best cremation urns available.

We also take great pains to ensure that our state of the art laser engraving process can and does produce precisely what you need to ensure your custom cremation urn is a fitting memorial. If you have any questions about our custom cremation urns, talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable customer care representatives. They will be happy to provide you all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding these most personal and important choices.