About Caskets

A casket or coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains – either for burial or cremation.

Casket -- All You Need to Know
By Alan Ross

When we talk of caskets, we mean funeral caskets. The word casket is the derivative of Greek word kophinos. That explains why word coffin is in use is some parts of the world. To some Americans, there still exists a difference between a casket and a coffin. Coffin thus is a hexagonal or an octagonal box tapering at one end and used for burial. A simple rectangular box with split lid used for viewing the deceased is a casket.



Photo: itoncaskets.com

Cultural and Geographical Variance
Although, most of the countries practice almost one form in exclusivity, it varies in some others with individual cemeteries. Ornaments, stipple crosses and Masonic symbols which are collectively called as fittings and organized inside drapery customize caskets.

Judaism stipulates plain wooden caskets with no metal parts whatsoever with wooden pegs in place of nails. Japan and China prefers scented non decaying woods like cedar, sugi, cypress etc. Africans prefer caskets made in various funny shapes such as vehicles, airplanes etc.

Modern Caskets
Modern casket manufacturers have innovative and protective caskets on sale; for example airtight caskets with gasket beading on lids. But let you not get misled by the phrase protective caskets, no casket will preserve bodies instead it fosters anaerobic decomposition which means the decomposed and liquefied body tissues remain inside until they are exhumed.

You might have come across transparent caskets occasionally. These are made of acrylic or Perspex material and are refrigerated with battery operated units at their bottoms. No wonder, these are used as transit coffins when the bodies of deceased VVIPs or kept for more than a couple of days for public viewing.

Buying Caskets
Buying caskets can be a challenging ordeal that comes during trying circumstances. It can be a tremendous help to be informed about options and price ranges beforehand. You can buy a casket from a licensed funeral service provider or from a manufacturer. But you should be aware of, in your desperate minute is, some manufacturers don’t sell their produce directly but to licensed funeral homes. Funeral homes sell caskets to family members of the deceased person as a part of their funeral service.

US Federal Law, requires funeral homes to accept the caskets provided by the members of the deceased persons’ families. They are obligated to accept caskets even if they are delivered directly by the manufacturers and in both the cases the families will not be charged separately.
Did you know that the Bronze transit casket of JFK was later disposed off Delaware coast on the behest of Robert Kennedy?

Alan Ross is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Casket, Arthritis and One Stop Information