So THAT'S The Difference Between A Coffin And A Casket

From Dracula’s resting place to polished funeral-home displays, the vessels we associate with death have evolved, and so has the language. Take the words coffin and casket, for example.People tend to use these interchangeably, but is there any difference between the two terms? Here’s what you should know.For starters, what’s a coffin?“A coffin is what you probably picture from old horror movies ― six sides, narrow at the head and feet, and shaped to follow the human form,” said Joshua Siegel, co-founder and president of the direct-to-consumer Titan Casket. “The lid is usually flat and fully removable.”This traditionally hexagonal vessel is usually tapered at the head and feet and wider at the shoulders, thus requiring less material in those narrowed places. Think Dracula sleeping in his coffin.The term “coffin” stems from Old French and English words referring to a basket, chest or even pie crust. And over time, the word has come to be used to describe any container for the deceased, regardless of shape or number of sides.What’s a casket?“A casket is rectangular with four sides, usually with a hinged lid that is often split for viewings, lined with padding and fabric, and designed to look more like a piece of fine furniture,” Siegel explained. “In the U.S., the casket is seen as more elegant and dignified, and that’s by design.”The term casket can also describe a special box for holding jewellery and other valuables. Many believe the word originated from the Old French “cassette,” meaning a small chest or box. “The term ‘casket’ started to replace ‘coffin’ in the 19th century, in part to soften the language of death and reflect the idea that the body was something precious,” Siegel noted. What’s the difference?“Both are containers for the deceased, but they differ in both design and cultural meaning,” Siegel said. Coffins tend to be made of wood, while caskets can contain a variety of materials, with wood and metal being the most common. Caskets typically cost more than coffins due to their more ornate design and materials. The lids are different, and caskets are more likely to include swing bar handles for ease of lifting and carrying. “Caskets are almost exclusively used in the U.S. and Canada,” Siegel explained. “Coffins are more common in the U.K., much of Europe and Latin America. In the U.K., for instance, ‘coffin’ is the default word and the standard shape.”He explained that there are religious and cultural traditions at play as well. “Jewish funerals often use simple wooden coffins. Some Christian traditions in the U.S. favour more ornate caskets. In Muslim customs, simplicity is emphasised, and burial may not involve a coffin or casket at all.”Why are caskets the norm in the U.S.?“The rectangular casket became the American standard during a broader cultural shift in how death was viewed ― and commercialised ― in the 19th and early 20th centuries,” Siegel explained.Although coffins were the norm in early U.S. history, the violence and mass casualties of the Civil War ushered in a “beautification of death” movement that changed mourning practices.“After the Civil War, embalming became more common, and open-casket funerals became a way for families to say goodbye,” Siegel said. “That increased the importance of presentation, not just of the body but of the container itself. The rectangular casket, with its symmetry and polished appearance, resembled fine furniture and felt more dignified to many American families.”At the same time, there came a shift in language around funerary practices that brought a gentler note.“The term ‘coffin’ ― associated with morbidity, decay, and old-world death ― was gradually replaced with ‘casket,’ a word that once meant a jewelry box,” Siegel said. “It reframed the entire experience. Instead of a grim vessel, the casket became a respectful resting place for something (or someone) precious. Funeral directors leaned into this narrative, and manufacturers followed suit.”He added that the rectangular casket shape also made manufacturing, transportation and storage easier.“In a country that was rapidly industrialising, scaling up mass production of a uniform shape just made sense,” Siegel noted. “In contrast, six-sided coffins remained the norm in Europe, the U.K., and many other parts of the world where local artisans still crafted funeral products by hand ― and where cultural traditions didn’t demand the same emphasis on viewings or presentation.”You can still find both coffins and caskets today, though in the U.S., the rectangular casket remains the standard. The difference between the two largely lies in design and tradition, but it serves as a reminder of how even the language of death continues to evolve.Related...I've Had 2 Near-Death Experiences. Here's What I Saw When I Died And How It Changed My Life.So THAT's Why Mould Always Comes Back No Matter What You DoSo THAT's Why Leaves Turned Brown So Early This Year

Comments

Breaking news

Trump Reportedly Wants Name Of New Ballroom To Honour His Favourite Person In The World

Huffpost uk

I was on Emmerdale for four years - one iconic star showed their true colours on the ITV set when the cameras stopped rolling

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease... the devastating condition that killed 9-1-1 Nashville actor Isabelle Tate

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly reconcile months after dramatic split and welcoming baby

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Behind the doors of Flockhill: I stayed at the ultra-exclusive New Zealand lodge after celebrities scored an invite in their VIP Golden Globes goodie bags

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

The striking moment Kate Middleton became a 'protective huntress' and appeared to deliberately ignore Fergie at the Duchess of Kent's funeral

about 2 hours ago

Chinese car power rankings: Ten brands tipped to take over the UK market

Dailymail

Asylum seeker sex attacker still at large: Father of girl, 14, who was assaulted by Ethiopian says 'justice system has let us down' as police comb London after he was freed by mistake

about 2 hours ago

The cafe owner putting phones in ‘jail’ to encourage chatting

BBC News

Comments

Breaking news

Trump Reportedly Wants Name Of New Ballroom To Honour His Favourite Person In The World

From Sunsets To Sex: 7 Ways To Make The Most Of Long, Dark Nights

Hunt continues for migrant sex offender released from prison by mistake

Will the clocks go back or forward tonight and do other countries change theirs?

Woman fights for life under police watch after girl, 9, killed in ‘unimaginable tragedy’

The true story behind that viral Louvre jewel heist mystery man photo

Epping manhunt latest: Three police forces search for jailed hotel asylum seeker after mistaken release

What we know about Epping hotel migrant who was mistakenly freed from prison

Epping hotel migrant accidentally freed from prison is ‘at large in London’, warns Lammy

Snow expected in UK over weekend with ‘coldest days of season so far’

Prince Andrew latest: Andrew ‘in advanced talks’ to leave Royal Lodge

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv allies pledge to take Russian oil off market to ‘choke’ Putin’s war machine

US accused of 'inventing a war' as it moves largest aircraft carrier to South America

Administrators lined up for North Sea oilfield services group Petrofac

Prince Andrew offered use of lavish Abu Dhabi palace if he quits Royal Lodge

WWE icon smuggled blade into court for horrifying purpose during trial

Hidden code cuts 20% off Samsung Galaxy S24 - but there are huge S25 savings too

Woman in 'life-threatening condition' after young girl dies and two children hurt in assault

Fix your slow and sluggish phone in seconds with these five easy tips

Prince Andrew 'could pocket £500,000 from King' by leaving Royal Lodge

Inside The Wanted star Nathan Sykes' fairytale Yorkshire wedding with very unique twist

Neighbours write brutal notes after resident leaves unexpected item in communal hall

Prince Andrew set for lavish Abu Dhabi palace move if he quits Royal Lodge

Man 'downed Jägerbombs with girlfriend's brother then killed him', court told

Prince Andrew 'forced maids to pick up soiled tissues scattered around teddy-laden bedroom'

'We were screamed at every night by anti-refugee thugs - too terrified to leave'

Worrying hidden signs in 'fake mum's' shock apology after fooling family with baby DOLL

WWE icon about to murder daughter's killer inside court until desperate act

EastEnders legend 'hasn't aged a day' more than 3 decades since quitting soap

Carly Rae Jepsen is married! Call Me Maybe singer ties the knot with music producer at iconic NYC hotel

I was on Emmerdale for four years - one iconic star showed their true colours on the ITV set when the cameras stopped rolling

What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease... the devastating condition that killed 9-1-1 Nashville actor Isabelle Tate

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly reconcile months after dramatic split and welcoming baby

Behind the doors of Flockhill: I stayed at the ultra-exclusive New Zealand lodge after celebrities scored an invite in their VIP Golden Globes goodie bags

The striking moment Kate Middleton became a 'protective huntress' and appeared to deliberately ignore Fergie at the Duchess of Kent's funeral

Chinese car power rankings: Ten brands tipped to take over the UK market

Nick Mason is selling his rare Pink Floyd Edition VW Golf Cabriolet at auction to raise money for charity

'A desperately sad story' SAM GREENHILL explores Virginia Guiffre's bombshell memoir amid Prince Andrew scandal

Eco house written off by Grand Designs Kevin McCloud as a 'mud hut in Benin' goes on the market for £2M

Asylum seeker sex attacker still at large: Father of girl, 14, who was assaulted by Ethiopian says 'justice system has let us down' as police comb London after he was freed by mistake

The cafe owner putting phones in ‘jail’ to encourage chatting

Pen pals meet for the first time after 43 years

Bears ‘enjoy life to the full’ after being rescued from bus depot

US chatshow host Jimmy Fallon borrows kilt for dinner with soldiers in Scotland

Labour deputy leadership election: Who could become the party’s new deputy leader?

Monster Season 4: Here's Everything We Know About The Lizzie Borden Story

So THAT'S The Difference Between A Coffin And A Casket

Strictly Come Dancing: 17 Top Picks To Replace Tess Daly And Claudia Winkleman

Nobody Wants This Season 2 Cast: Here's Where You've Seen The Stars Before

Spare A Thought For The Parents Of These Kids And Their Unexpected Halloween Costumes

Nato scrambles fighter jets after Russian planes violate Lithuania’s airspace in ‘blatant breach’

Grandmothers in Colombia get the quinceañera they never had

Common 5p sweet makes you feel 'more alert' - perfect for when clocks change

Expert on 'biggest bang for your health buck' after fresh research

Toddler dies at police station after suffering critical injuries in horror crash

Inside race to replace Angela Rayner as new deputy Labour leader announced today

Beatrice and Eugenie's hidden turmoil as they 'finally question' parents' actions

BUCKTIN: Guilty perp chased down by 'drug-sniffing' HORSE after cop cracks joke

Prince Harry 'left Royal Family reeling' with explosive comment about Queen

BRIAN READE: Squatter Prince Andrew has shamed his country - let's turf him out for good