As cremation becomes increasingly popular, creative ash-scattering practices are blowing in the wind. Among many options, the dearly departed have requested their ashes be scattered at Wrigley Field, packed into fireworks and shot from cannons, and scattered at various sites within theme parks.
The animatronic ride, “Pirates of the Caribbean,” at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., recently was shut down after a guest was spotted sprinkling an unidentified substance into the water. Park officials alerted police, but the attraction was reopened after determining there was no threat to guests.
Spokespeople say guests sometimes do ask permission to scatter ashes – with the “Haunted Mansion” being a popular site – but the answer always is no. Without written permission, scattering ashes on private property is a misdemeanor violation of the state Health and Safety Code, but there’s little authorities can do to enforce the law because ashes pose no health threat.
