2006-07-28 03:20:30 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Because hey, you never know...
Actually, I don't think they nail them anymore, i think they have seals on them. People want their coffins sealed i guess to delay the inevitable, the breakdown of the physical being.
2006-07-28 03:32:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The lid could fall off revealing the corpse. The corpse could fall out. It could also be to reinforce the structure of the coffin, and 6ft of earth is quite heavy and would easily snap the lid of the coffin, nailing it shut can help the weight of the earth by spread more easily...
2006-07-28 03:32:56 · answer #2 · answered by sneak_chamber 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you'll find they're screwed down, not nailed. Maybe it reassures people that when the coffin disappears at the funeral, there aren't people waiting the other side of the curtain to remove jewellery, or remove the body and re-sell the coffin!
ebay - coffin for sale, slightly used, some small stains.
Eeeewww.
2006-07-28 03:35:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't nail the lid of the coffin down, they lock it. It is to protect the deceased from falling out in the event that it is dropped going to the cememtery. Also when locked it make an airtight seal, so when the deceased is in the vault it is protected from different elements. (From water in the event of a flood and water gets in the vault, from insects, and to help preserve the deceased)
Also, some people like to put valuables in the casket and locking it will keep them inside. It is also locked out of respect for the deceased.
2006-07-28 04:56:20 · answer #4 · answered by sunflowerlizard 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the final "nail in the Coffin" that counts
2006-07-28 03:24:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So the body doesnt fall out if u dropped it (God forbid!)? Do they really nail lids down or is it just a saying?
2006-07-28 03:29:15 · answer #6 · answered by Moi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know.
I would have thought "No more nails" would have
done the trick or how about a pretty red bow tied around the middle?
2006-07-28 03:30:27 · answer #7 · answered by Bored at work 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you imagine if the lid came loose during transportation or the funeral itself?
2006-07-28 03:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by franja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So the person cant crawl out!
It could date back to 16th century when superstition was in its height, and people thought the spirits could escape..
But of course, it ensures people cant pester the dead
2006-07-28 03:23:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cos Velcro wouldn't work in the rain
2006-07-28 03:24:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋