Bridge Over the Rainbow. Animal Burials and Animal Cemeteries in Post-Socialist Estonia

Abstract

Ritual burials for animals have been practiced both ancient advanced cultures (like Egypt) and prehistoric peoples. As a factor accompanying the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 19th century, cemeteries for pets began to appear in the vicinity of bigger cities, and pet culture as a whole formed a separate economic branch. In industrial society the topic of pets became so important that in 1978 Errol Morris produced his widely acclaimed documentary Gates of Heaven, which focused on the business of animal burials. This article reviews the change in animal burial practices, focusing on the practices found in post-socialist Estonia, where the phenomenon is rather new because of various socio-cultural reasons. As a result of this newness, the phenomenon is causing opposing opinions in society.