Viking Funerals are an ancient viking funeral practice in which the body is placed on a boat and set on fire by an arrow, partially cremating the body. Though it’s commonly thought that the boat sailed and the body burned at sea, this usually didn’t happen. Though there were some instances of this, the body was usually set on fire while still on land. Because it’s still widely thought that the ship was sailing, I’ll explain the legality of both.
If you’re just here to find out if they are legal, the short answer is: No, neither way of doing a viking funeral is legal in NJ or anywhere else in America.
If you’re still reading, here are the many, many reasons why this is not legal and what alternatives exist.
First, there’s the issue of the body burning. In order for proper cremation to occur, cremation ovens are kept at a really high temperature for a long amount of time. This allows the body to fully and safely turn into ash. The body being on fire while on a boat doesn’t create the same conditions. This results in the body not fully burning and chunks of charred body parts, which are at best on the boat or on the ground, or at worst, in the ocean, depending on which method is being used. This creates massive issues for the ecosystem and anyone else using the water.
Next, we have the fire hazard issue. Shooting an arrow onto a boat creates a massive risk of fire in several ways. When lighting the arrow, many other things around it could also catch fire like the ground, the bow, or people nearby. When the arrow is loaded onto the bow, it could catch any of the things mentioned before on fire as well. If the arrow misses and hits land, or any of the objects mentioned before, it would set them on fire. Finally, the boat or human remains could set things on fire if they come to shore. Even if everything goes as planned, there is still a huge risk of smoke inhalation. All around, there is a high chance of serious injury or death.
There are, however, many legal alternatives. First, you can cremate a body the proper way first, then put the remains on a boat. Second, you may choose a green burial or traditional burial, then put the casket on a boat. All of these options I’ve mentioned so far are legal in all 50 US states with federal and state restrictions. There’s another option that is thought by many to be the closest alternative to a viking funeral, an open pyre cremation. An open pyre cremation is when the body is cremated outdoors in an open space for people to watch, similar to a viking funeral except on land, rather than in water. The catch is that it’s only legal in one US state: Colorado. Plus, it’s limited to residents of Crestone County, so there’s not many who can access it. To see what an open pyre cremation looks like, click here to watch a video of what it looks like:
https://www.tiktok.com/@the_modern_mortician/video/7463164333086821674
|
Burial/ Cremation Method |
Legal/ Available in NJ? |
How it’s similar to a real or fictionalized viking funeral |
How it’s different from a real or fictionalized viking funeral |
Average cost in NJ, if available |
Restrictions in NJ, if any |
|
Open Pyre Funeral |
No |
Body is cremated outdoors by the water |
Body is not on a boat |
N/A |
Illegal |
|
Green burial at sea |
Yes |
Body is on a boat at sea |
Body is not cremated |
$700-$2500 plus base burial cost |
You or the company must have a permit from the EPA, plus additional restrictions: https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/burial-sea#eligible |
|
Traditional burial at sea |
Yes |
Body is on a boat at sea |
Body is not cremated |
$700-$2500 plus burial cost |
You or the company must have a permit from the EPA, plus additional restrictions: https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/burial-sea#eligible |
|
Scattering open cremated ashes at sea |
Yes |
Body is at sea |
Body is cremated, but not in an open air and no while on a boat |
No cost outside of cremation costs |
Must be at least 3 nautical miles from shore. |
|
Putting an urn with cremated ashes at sea |
Yes |
Body is at sea |
Body is not cremated while on a boat |
Between $375-$475, plus cremation costs |
Must be at least 3 nautical miles from shore. Must also be a 100% biodegradable urn |
While viking funerals are pretty cool, they aren’t legal anywhere and are massively harmful to the environment and potentially to humans.
If you’re in the process of figuring out a burial or cremation option in New Jersey, it can be overwhelming to figure out which options are legal, available, and meet your needs. The best resource for figuring out all of that is our membership. For a one time fee of $35 for individuals or $50 for families, you can receive a curated list of funeral homes, guides to advance planning, and phone and email support for any of the above. The membership lasts a lifetime and it can even be transferred to any other Funeral Consumers Alliance affiliate in the US. You can click here to become a member today!
You can also click here to learn more about the membership or click here to contact us if you don’t see your question answered.
Finally, if you are looking for these resources outside of New Jersey, you can click here to find the Funeral Consumers Alliance affiliate in your area of the United States:
Viking Funeral FAQ
(Some answers may contain information already in the blog in order to help search engines find this article)
What is a viking funeral?
Viking Funerals are an ancient viking funeral practice in which the body is placed on a boat and close to the funeral. An arrow is then set on fire and shot onto the boat, partially cremating the body.
Where did viking funerals happen?
Viking Funerals were practiced by the then Viking residents of the land that makes up Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
When did viking funerals happen?
We don’t know exactly which year they started and stopped, but we know the Viking Age was from 793 AD and 1066 AD so they were likely concentrated around this time.
Are viking funerals legal?
No, viking funerals are not legal, due to a variety of issues including fire hazards, environmental issues, and more.
What are legal alternatives that are similar to a viking funeral?
Legal alternatives that are similar to a viking funeral include scattering ashes at sea, sailing a cremation urn, and traditional or green burial at sea in all 50 US states. Additionally, an open pyre funeral is legal only in Colorado.
Open Pyre and At Sea Burials/Cremations FAQ
What is an open pyre funeral?
An open pyre funeral cremates the body in an open air setting where the body is set on fire outside.
Where are open pyre funerals legal?
Open Pyre funerals are only legal in Colorado and limited to residents of Crestone County.
What is the difference between a viking funeral and an open pyre funeral?
A viking funeral typically had the body on a boat
Can you scatter cremated ashes at sea in the US?
Yes, with federal and state restrictions.
Can you be buried at sea in the US?
Yes, with federal and state restrictions.
What is a green burial or traditional burial at sea?
A burial at sea is when the body is buried in a casket, then sailed on a boat.
