The first-ever national contest in Russia focused on decorating burial sites took place in Novosibirsk on May 14, drawing three teams from different cities. A participant in the event, Tatyana Fedotova, who runs the Sevastopol-based company A Matter of Honor, spoke with socialbites.ca about the event. She described the competition as a positive development because it gives funeral services workers a platform to share practical knowledge, swap ideas, and showcase the craft involved in maintaining burial grounds.
Fedotova pointed out that many trades have formal skill competitions, from electricians to locksmiths, and questioned why ritual specialists could not join similar programs. The goal, she explained, is to exchange best practices, test practical knowledge, and refine business strategies within the field. She found the format accessible and constructive, noting that the event presented a wide range of materials and methods that could be used for landscaping at burial sites. Although she could not say for certain whether the competition would be held again next year, she expressed clear intent to participate if it returns, confident that lessons learned would help her team perform even better in the future.
According to Fedotova, taking part in the competition was both engaging and informative, with emotions running high throughout the proceedings. She has long been involved in efforts to improve burial practices, and she emphasized that this marks a milestone for Russia, paralleling last year’s cemetery-digging contest. The present event focused on enhancing burial sites through careful maintenance, cleaning, zoning, and painting — all elements that the company has been addressing since its inception in 2017. Her team entered the competition eager to demonstrate their expertise in cemetery care and to learn from peers about new techniques and approaches. The experience was described as deeply informative and instructive, even as the nerves and excitement grew intense.
Fedotova noted that the judging panel consisted of three members who evaluated the proposed improvements, the practical application of the techniques, and the overall presentation. The emphasis was on how well each team could transform a burial site within the allotted time and how thoughtfully the work reflected both aesthetics and respect for the space. The event’s structure encouraged participants to consider not only visual appeal but also long-term maintenance and operations planning for cemetery grounds.
Earlier coverage by regional outlets reported that the first Russian contest for cemetery design gathered teams from Sevastopol, Omsk, and Novosibirsk. The competition rules required participants to decorate a burial site using flowers, tiles, and other materials within a one-hour window. The team from Omsk ultimately claimed the prize, taking home a 20,000 ruble award. The results highlighted both the creative approaches employed by the teams and the practical constraints of working under time pressure in a cemetery environment. The event underscored the growing interest in professionalizing aspects of cemetery care and in recognizing the skill sets unique to ritual services, from landscape design to meticulous site upkeep.