Embalming is the process of removing the blood and viscera from a body and replacing it with a preservative, for the purposes of a viewing.

Embalming is not required by law. It does not 'sanitize' the body, or prevent communicable diseases. It does not make the body appear more 'life-like.' It is not required for an open casket viewing. The only things that require embalming are:

• Transporting a body across state or international lines
• Hiring a Funeral Director that does not have access to a refridgeration unit
• Burial in a traditional cemetery.

Generations had grown to accept this 'traditional' approach to interment, but more recently, people have sought out alternatives. One thing that makes American death unique is the variety of options available to us outside of this traditional approach.

Caskets are made of hardwood or metal, and can also be hermetically sealed, preventing any exterior influence on decomposition. This sealing-off instead promotes anaerobic bacteria, which decompose the body rapidly, often liquefying the remains into a soup. No amount of embalming or casket sealing will prevent decomposition, which is inevitable.

Vaults or grave liners are required by traditional cemeteries to prevent the ground from sinking after burial. They are traditionally made of cement. A vault is lined and sealed, protecting from weather, unlike a grave liner - but neither prevents decomposition.

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From roughly 1880-1920, graveyards quickly filled up, land became a more precious resource, and cemeteries were gradually moved out of cities and into more bucolic settings, with designs based on English gardens.

As death left town, it left our consciousness as well. As cemeteries were beautified in order to lessen the impact and awareness of death, the corpse was simultaneously beautified to remove all traces of being deceased.

The cost of an American funeral during this time increased 250%. And as the body ceased to be washed at home and placed in the parlour, the space was adapted for a more modern use: the living room.

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Embalming is the process of removing the blood and viscera from a body and replacing it with a preservative, for the purposes of a viewing.

Embalming is not required by law. It does not 'sanitize' the body, or prevent communicable diseases. It does not make the body appear more 'life-like.' It is not required for an open casket viewing. The only things that require embalming are:

• Transporting a body across state or international lines
• Hiring a Funeral Director that does not have access to a refridgeration unit
• Burial in a traditional cemetery.

Generations had grown to accept this 'traditional' approach to interment, but more recently, people have sought out alternatives. One thing that makes American death unique is the variety of options available to us outside of this traditional approach.

Caskets are made of hardwood or metal, and can also be hermetically sealed, preventing any exterior influence on decomposition. This sealing-off instead promotes anaerobic bacteria, which decompose the body rapidly, often liquefying the remains into a soup. No amount of embalming or casket sealing will prevent decomposition, which is inevitable.

Vaults or grave liners are required by traditional cemeteries to prevent the ground from sinking after burial. They are traditionally made of cement. A vault is lined and sealed, protecting from weather, unlike a grave liner - but neither prevents decomposition.