How to Choose Between a Coffin and a Casket

Burials are one of the best ways to honor your loved ones after they pass. It’s a tradition of honoring the passing of someone who was near and dear to the heart of many. A part of that tradition is choosing the container in which the body will be held. There are two main options for you to choose from — a coffin or a casket. It can be a confusing choice at first, after all, what even are the differences between the two? We’ll discuss that and more in this article. If you’re wanting to buy a coffin or casket, look for funeral homes in Skaneateles, NY.

The Difference Between Coffins and Caskets

The first step in choosing between a coffin or a casket is knowing the differences between them. While they aren’t staggering, they do have certain elements that will help you know which to choose for you or your loved ones.

Coffins

A coffin, similar to a casket, is a burial container. It has six sides that form a tapered hexagon shape. Coffins used to be the norm for burials, but their popularity has diminished and they are not commonly used nowadays. This is in large part due to the other burial container that we’ll talk about in this article.

The 1700s were when the coffin started to amass popularity. They focused primarily on function over aesthetic, being wider at the top to allow for a person’s shoulders to fit — tapering down since legs are skinnier than the upper body.

Tapering the shape of the coffin, generally means less material used to create the container. This translates into a lower price when compared to caskets.

Caskets

Caskets are also a form of burial container. Instead of being tapered, they are rectangular in shape. This is what made them become the go-to burial container.

Since death was so frequent in the Civil War, there was a push to honor death and value the person who lost their life.

Caskets were more beautiful and gave ample room for the body of the deceased. Thus, coffins soon became an outdated way of containing the body of a person who passed.

The emphasis placed on aesthetics means that normally caskets will cost more than coffins. Caskets are more ornate, dressed up to look pleasing to the human eye. This is a pro or con, depending on the eye of the beholder.

Decide According to Values

What do you value in a burial container? Beauty, aesthetic value, and a more human shape? Maybe functionality and a unique shape?

Whatever you value more, choose that option. Ultimately, you will have to decide how you want yourself or your loved one to be remembered.

There is no right or wrong answer.

While coffins have lost popularity, there are still plenty of options to choose from. In fact, they’ve regained a lot of the beauty that was lacking in the past. Nowadays, there are special ornaments, decorations, and features that you can add to any burial container.

Don’t feel limited because of societal standards. Do what’s right for you and your values.

You can learn more about funeral homes in Skaneateles, NY. Talk to us at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc.. to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services/funeral home services. Visit our office in New York or call our location.