100 issues of THANOS magazine
behind us!

History of the magazine in facts and covers

By Katarzyna Supa, funeral innovation researcher, editor-in-chief THANOS magazine

THANOS magazine's 100th anniversary issue is a good opportunity to dig a little into the magazine's history. Have you ever wondered what the first cover might have looked like
and when the whole story of the official FIAT-IFTA’s magazine starts?

The first issue of the magazine was published in September 1988, when the organization's headquarters was in Monaco. The issue was in the format of a black-and-white computer printout bound in a transparent cover. We imagine that only a few or a dozen copies may have been produced. Jacques Marette (France), president of FIAT-IFTA from 1988 to 1990 and the first editor-in-chief,
was responsible for preparing the magazine, which resembled a bulletin rather than a magazine at the time. The issue was 19 pages long, presenting the organization's board of directors and its national and active members. The magazine was bilingual - published in French and English. Much of the first issue was filled with an article on the embalming of Ramses II.

For the next seven years, the magazine's cover and formula remained unchanged until 1995.
By then, issue 18 of THANOS magazine already presented itself in a new layout and took the form of a real magazine covering the most current topics in the funeral, cemetery and thanatopraxy industries.
The magazine was published in three languages, English, French and Spanish, three times a year.
In 2007, for the first time, a special issue was published, drafted in 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. It served as a short bulletin of the organization but the most important content of the issue was a list of all FIAT-IFTA members. Further special issues were published every year until 2012, when the function of the FIAT-IFTA member directory was taken over by our website.
In 2017, the magazine had another significant change in its layout and character. From then on, it has been published only in English and strongly based on the knowledge and experience of FIAT-IFTA members. Becoming a platform for presenting news, sharing their opinions and insights, and promoting industry events.

It is worth mentioning that THANOS magazine has always been among the first to report on the most recent novelties in the funeral industry. It was 1996 when we first wrote about Digital Death, the birth of the Internet and virtual cemeteries. In 1998, we first wrote about digital memorialization of the dead. In 2004, we announced that FIAT-IFTA had a website. In 2006, we first reported on fingerprint memorial jewelry. In 2012, we noted the advent of QR codes as a tool for accessing expanded information on a specific topic. In 2022 we wrote about human composting - burial that turns the body into soil.

THANOS magazine has always been among the first to report on the most important events related to the funeral, cemetery and thanatopraxy industries, present the most recent products and services, describe the funeral culture of various countries, give voice to FIAT-IFTA members and report on important industry events. And this will never change! We hope to appear for at least 100 more issues constantly accompanying funeral professionals and presenting important topics and inspiring innovations for the industry.

Currently, the magazine can be read online, in English, 4 times a year. We invite you to follow future issues on the website and on Social Media such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

All members are constantly invited to be the co-creators of THANOS Magazine, by sharing their news and experiences as well as having the opportunity to showcase their products and services.
Let’s our magazine and website truly reflect the funeral industry Worldwide.

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