Many people use the terms coffin and casket interchangeably. To the funeral industry, however, they are two different things. A casket is different from a coffin in that it is a rectangle shape that is not tapered to the body. The lid of a casket is usually hinged so it can be opened. Caskets are most commonly used when there will be a viewing of the deceased. Caskets can be quite elaborate and are usually lined with velvet, crepe or taffeta. An increasing trend is for caskets to be personalised with the deceased memorabilia (photos and mementos).
Some cultures do not allow for any personalisation or elaborate features. For instance Jewish traditional law specifies that the dead should be buried in plain wooden coffins with no metal parts or adornment.
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