Austrian Tradition

The Austrian village of Hallstatt is located between a mountain and a lake, so therefore has very limited burial space. To solve this problem they would allow for the remains of their dead to lie in the cemetery for only 12 years. When that time was up the bones would be exhumed and moved to a charnel, but the skull would be kept. It would be tastefully decorated with the name of the deceased, a cross and plants. It would then be displayed in a chapel. Although creamtion has now been allowed in the village this custom still takes place.