Funeral traditions have evolved, and many of the practices that we have today have their roots in the past. A critical aspect of the funeral industry is the coffin or casket used to bury the deceased. Coffins and caskets have been around for centuries, with coffins traditionally being a six-sided burial container with a removable lid and a casket being a rectangular four-sided container with a hinged lid. The term "coffin" originates from the French word "coffin," meaning basket.

Before the Civil War, coffins were not mass-produced, and the deceased were often buried in shrouds or simple wooden boxes. The high death toll of the Civil War led to the need for quick production of coffins, and many furniture makers, such as Charles Ferdinand, began making more coffins than cabinets during this time. The invention of cast iron coffins by the Fisk family allowed for more accessible transportation of bodies over long distances, as wooden coffins and the lack of embalming made it challenging to transport bodies home.

One exciting innovation in coffin design is the Fisk Mummy Coffin, patented by Almond Fisk in 1848. This coffin was designed to immortalise and preserve a corpse in a cast-iron, human-shaped coffin, so airborne diseases would not be spread to the surrounding cities. A common feature of Fisk coffins is the facial window where the mourners could gaze upon their loved ones. However, the shape and the window were most unsettling, and the production of these coffins ended sometime between 1853 and 1860.

Another important aspect of funeral traditions is the hearse, a vehicle transporting the deceased to the burial site. A hearse used at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Convent, Louisiana, circa 1850, is an example of a traditional hearse. The use of a hearse in funeral processions dates back to ancient Rome, where the body was carried on a bier or a litter. Today, hearses are typically used to transport the coffin or casket to the burial site, and they are often decorated with flowers or other funeral arrangements.

In conclusion, funeral traditions have undergone significant changes over the years, and innovations in coffin design and transportation have played an essential role. The Fisk Mummy Coffin and the use of cast iron for coffins allowed for more accessible transit of bodies over long distances. Using a hearse to transport the deceased to the burial site has become a standard practice in modern funeral processions.