Placing things in or on the coffin Sam Weller It's common to place personal items in a coffin or put flowers or a pall or cloth over the coffin, but there can be restrictions on this.

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Coffins to be buried

Coffins for cremation

Generally, you can place items in and on a coffin for burial without any problem. If you're concerned about the environment, however, bear in mind that synthetic materials like nylon can take a very long time to turn to dust. There's also some concern about embalming fluid leaking into the ground.

It's part of the ritual in Roman Catholic funerals, while in the church, to place a pall (a special cloth) over the coffin, and a crucifix and or bible upon it. Flags or flowers can be placed on the coffin on the way to and from the church but not within the building.

When the coffin is to be cremated, there are restrictions

When the coffin is to be cremated, there are restrictions. Anything in or attached to the coffin when it stands on the catafalque (the decorated wooden framework that supports the coffin) in the crematorium must stay with the coffin and go into the cremator. This doesn't apply to coverings such as flags or palls, or the cocoon shell of a cardboard coffin.

The material that the coffin is made of, fixatives, linings, handles, must all be of an approved standard that will not emit polluting fumes when burned. Clothing or other items inside the coffin mustn't be made from synthetic materials for the same reason.

Some items that are traditional coffin goods in some communities, including bottles, other containers and coconuts, are also banned as they can explode in the flames and cause damage. For the same reason, pacemakers and other medical mechanisms must also be removed.