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Is it Time to Upgrade Your Urn?
If you're looking at the urn on your mantle thinking that it's outdated, worn, or doesn't match your décor, now is the perfect time to upgrade it! Learn how to open an urn and transfer the ashes to another urn and discover some creative ways to reuse the original.
Reasons to Upgrade Your Urn
There are many reasons to replace an older urn with a new one. Here are just a handful of possibilities:
- It was passed down through generations and is showing its age through wear and tear.
- It's too generic and doesn't fully represent the memory of the person it contains. If this is your reason, be sure to browse our collection of Heavenly Creations urns for personalized ideas.
- It can't be engraved and has no markings for identification.
- It was all you could afford when it was purchased, and you'd like to honor your loved one in a better way now.
- You've recently become its caretaker, and it doesn't match any décor in your home.
How to Transfer Ashes to a New Urn
How to open an urn
While each type of urn has its own type of closure, opening an urn tends to be a simple task. If the urn is a vase-style urn with the opening on top, you may be able to just unscrew it. But if it is sealed, you might need an epoxy solvent or fingernail polish remover to break the seal. Wooden urns should open at the bottom with the help of a screwdriver to remove the panel, and marble and natural stone urns with their openings on the bottom just require the removal of the stopper – often done with a twisting motion.
What happens if you open an urn?
Many people worry that it's bad luck to open an urn or that you may unleash some spiritual energy. You can read more about the superstitious aspects of urns and ashes, but with few exceptions in special cases, nothing scary happens when you open an urn. Most likely, it won't even be messy because the ashes should be sealed in a protective plastic bag within the urn. This practice is to ensure the ashes are not accidentally spilled in the case of an urn breaking or being inadvertently opened by mistake.
How do you transfer ashes to a new urn?
Once you've opened both urns, the transferal should be as simple as removing the plastic bag of ashes from the original urn and gently placing it into the new urn. However, if you find that your situation is the exception to the rule, know that there's no potential danger in handling cremains. To keep the mess to a minimum, wear gloves and take your time to transfer them carefully. If you're squeamish about handling cremated remains that aren't in a bag, ask for assistance. You can also contact a local funeral home to see if they would help you.
What to do with an empty cremation urn
Once you've rehomed your loved one's ashes, it's time to decide what to do with the old urn. If it's in rough shape, there's no shame in tossing it. But if it still has some life left in it (no pun intended), you may want to hold onto it as a family keepsake. You could place it in a treasured memory box or reuse a vase-style urn as… well… a vase. Another option would be to donate it, either to a family who needs assistance with funeral expenses or to a nonprofit thrift store. You could even sell it online.
When you're ready to upgrade your urn, Perfect Memorials has thousands of beautiful and stylish cremation urns to choose from. Browse our selection or use the search box to narrow it down to a particular design or theme
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