Another intersting burial rite...
I have a friend who lives on the east coast of the south of Sweden (Skåne). There he knows some very "alternative" Swedes who make sacrifices to the Norse gods at Midsummer.

One of them had the horrible experience of being pre-deceased by his own son. Somehow they managed to get a permit, which allowed this scene to unfold.

A boat of simple but old construction, loaded with a funeral pyre was held in place at the sandy shore as the father carried his son to the top.

The boat was then set alight, and pushed out into the Baltic, to be carried away by the gentle offshore summer breeze.

Huge amounts of Snaps and beer were consumed as the friends and family sang long into the evening, watching the boat drift out of sight.

It must have been truly magical, and I'm sorry I missed it.
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Tue 4 Mar 2008, 14:56, Reply)