The earth funeral is the interment of the deceased into a grave in the ground. In Germany the usage of a coffin which meets specific requirements is mandatory. Furthermore, the earth funeral may only be executed on a graveyard or property which meets the officially certified requirements, meaning you may for example not inter the deceased on your private estate in Germany.
Other requirements to be met are a specific depth of the grave along with specific measurements. The coffin has to rest and remain for a certain period of time within the grave before it can be opened again or the coffin can be moved. This is determined by the kind of soil the coffin is interred in. A minimum of 48 hours after the confirmed moment of death has to pass before a body can be interred. The maximum amount of time between confirmation of death and the funeral is 8 days in the German federal state of Saxony.