Wood caskets have made a comeback in recent years as a popular choice for burial. Since about 1973, environmental concerns as well as the dramatically increased number of cremations have helped wood caskets to regain their place at the top of the most popular types of caskets.
Until the early 1800's, wood caskets were, by far, the most common type of casket. Consistent with the Biblical idea of "dust to dust," inexpensive wood was considered the most appropriate casket material for many years. Then, as the industrial revolution took hold across the Western World, people began turning to steel, and wood caskets began their century-long decline in popularity. Manufacturers of wood caskets responded to the competition by finding ways to make wood caskets more durable and sturdy all throughout the 1800's and early 1900's. Most of today's wood caskets are unlike the very simple wood caskets of old -- hardwood, heavy and crafted with as much care as expensive home furnishings. And this tradition in wood caskets has its roots in the manufacturers of the late 19th and early 20th century trying to make their wood caskets appeal to customers wanting longer lasting steel caskets instead.
But despite the manufacturers efforts, wood caskets eventually all-but disappeared from the Western World by the time of World War I. During World War II, however, steel came in high demand by armies across the world, so its use for caskets became impractical and expensive. Suddenly, the hardwood, heavy wood caskets were considered the best option available, and wood caskets returned in droves. Most of the soldiers who died in World War II, in fact, were buried in wood caskets.
But the popularity of wood caskets was relatively short lived. By 1948 manufacturers, demand on steel had decreased dramatically, and manufacturers had started making started returning to steel caskets again. By 1953, wood caskets had been almost completely replaced in the market once again.
But, as cremation became increasingly popular and as environmental concerns about steel caskets became more prevalent wood caskets came back to the market again in about 1973. Today, even bodies that are to be cremated are commonly presented in funerals in beautifully crafted wood caskets that are then burned with the body in the crematory. And many people, going back to the "dust to dust" tradition, are most comfortable with the idea of burial in wood caskets that will degrade much more quickly than steel caskets.
All in-all, steel caskets still remain the most popular choice today, but wood caskets are an increasingly common choice.
Wood caskets can be made from a huge variety of woods. Among the most popular woods, however, are mahogany, walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, popular, and pine. A good deal of consumer information about wood caskets particularly wood caskets that are to be cremated -- can be found through the Cremation Association of North America.
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