25 Interesting Funeral Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published May 19, 2025

The word "funeral" is from the Latin word funus, meaning "dead body."_[7]
There are two differences between a coffin and a casket: 1) a coffin has six sides, and 2) coffins are usually smaller and less expensive than caskets._[2]
The father of embalming is considered to be Dr. Frederik Ruysch, a Dutch botanist and anatomist (1665–1717). He was the first to discover a successful system of arterial embalming._[7]
Embalming fluid is tinted pink to help the deceased's skin look a little more natural._[7]
Followers of the ancient Zoroastrian religion place corpses in "towers of silence," which are also known as dakhmas, for "excarnation." This practice exposes corpses to the elements and to vultures for quick decomposition, thus avoiding water and soil contamination._[9]
For U.S. military funerals, the American flag is folded into a triangle, symbolizing the hats that soldiers wore during the Revolutionary War._[9]
During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a pervasive fear of being buried alive, which led to the invention of the safety coffin. While designs varied, the common feature was a way for the buried person to communicate with the above world, usually via a bell attached to a string._[14]
The word "coffin" is from the Old French word cofin, which means "little basket."_[3]

Coffins aren't just for burying the dead; they can also be extremely symbolic

It's legal in most American states to not use a funeral home for death rites. In 41 states, it's legal to do the entire the funeral process privately, including writing the death certificate. In the remaining states, a funeral director must be involved in filing the certificate._[4]
When a body is cremated, what is left is not ash but bone fragments that look like broken seashells._[4]
It is legal in all American states to scatter ashes on private property. Cremation is a "final disposition," which means remains are no longer subject to the same public health laws that a body is._[4]
The tradition of placing flowers on a grave originates in ancient Greece. The ancient Greeks believed that if the flowers grew, then a soldier had found peace in the afterlife._[10]
At traditional Irish wakes, loud music was played to both ward off evil spirits and to make sure the dead person was really dead._[6]
Alexander the Great is said to have had the most expensive funeral of all time, at about $600 million in today's dollars. It lasted two years, and his body was placed in two sarcophagi and transported on a golden carriage to his gravesite in Egypt. Ironically, no one knows for sure where he is buried._[8]

Alexander the Great's funeral lasted two years. Ironically, historians are unsure where he is buried

Irish funerals often had a "sin eater." This was usually a hired person who was paid to eat the sins of the dead so the deceased would avoid damnation. The sin eater was given bread and ale that had been passed over the body. The "sin eater" was usually so poor he would be grateful for the little bit of money and food._[6]
Arlington National Cemetery conducts about 6,400 burials every year, or about 28 burials per day. The cemetery is about 600 acres and is nearing capacity._[5]
In 2002, investigators found over 300 bodies on Tri-State Crematory's property. The crematory had not been cremating the bodies. Instead of bone fragments, they gave families concrete dust._[15]
Members of Tupac's band, Outlawz, claimed that as part of Tupac's private memorial service, they smoked his ashes. Researchers note that a one-time human-ash joint would not be much more dangerous than anything else the band may have smoked._[13]
Endocannibalism is when members of a group eat their dead as away to eliminate their fear of death._[12]
A company called Eternal Reefs will incorporate someone's remains into a cement sphere or "reef bar" in the ocean._[12]
Some Buddhists practice "Sky Burial," in which a human body is cut up into many pieces and left out for birds to eat. It is seen as an act of compassion and charity._[12]
The Romans popularized and standardized the use of gravestones. Roman soldiers were technically not allowed to marry during their active service, but they would still form informal unions. They unofficially acknowledged and honored these bonds through inscriptions on tombstones._[7]

What would your fantasy coffin be? (Creative Commons: Regula Tschumi)

In Ghana, bodies are often buried in "fantasy coffins," which are designed to reflect the deceased's personality or hobbies. Interesting coffin shapes include shoes, cars, animals, or even Coca-Cola cans._[11]
In ancient Britain, those who committed suicide were buried at crossroads in order to confuse the spirits of the dead. The English believed the spirits of suicide victims would try to come back and haunt their old villages._[12]
In Madagascar, families practice the "turning of the bones" or "Famadihana." Every 5–7 years, people dig up their ancestors, wrap them in fresh shrouds, and party with music, hog roasts, rum, and dancing._[1]