Resting Places for 'Star Children' on Thuringian Cemeteries - Thuringia's Cemeteries Honor 'Star Children' with Dedicated Graves
Thuringian cemeteries, including those in Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, Gotha, Heiligenstadt, and Saalfeld, have dedicated areas for the burial of 'star children' - babies who die before, during, or shortly after birth. These graves are a testament to the region's sensitivity towards the loss of these young lives.
In Weimar, the main cemetery hosts three ceremonies annually for 'star children', with around 30 burials each time. This practice aligns with Thuringian burial law, which grants the right to burial for miscarriages and aborted fetuses from 500 grams of birth weight. Similar ceremonies occur in other Thuringian cities. For instance, in Jena, the University Clinic manages a grave site on the North Cemetery, with two ceremonies held each year since 2014.
The 15th of October is internationally recognized as the memorial day for 'star children'. Dorothea Heller, a chaplain at the Sophien- and Hufeland Clinic in Weimar, has observed an increasing sensitivity to the issue of 'star child' graves. Initiatives for these graves often originate from affected parents or self-help groups, with support from birth clinics and cemeteries. Thomas Kölmel, the chaplain at the Sophien- and Hufeland Clinic, is known for his work with 'star children' in Thuringia. The main cemetery in Erfurt has had a 'rainbow grave' for 'star children' since 2002, with two ceremonies held each year.
Thuringia's cemeteries provide a place of remembrance and comfort for families who have lost a 'child' before or shortly after birth. These dedicated spaces reflect the region's empathy and support for those coping with such profound loss.
