What is embalming? Embalming is one of the many processes in which a body is kept preserved after death. There are many reasons why people choose to embalm, and many circumstances in which people would be embalmed. There are many ways to deal with a body after it is dead, and embalming is one of the more common methods of doing so.
Embalming was first started by the Ancient Egyptians. They would do so to preserve the body of the Pharaoh, and other prominent members of Egyptian high society. It was believed that the Pharaoh would need that body to survive in the after life, so it was preserved to the smallest detail. Amazingly, you can look at a mummy today and still see the teeth, and sometimes the hair, of a person who lived almost 3,000 years ago.
Basically, embalming is a process in which the body is drained of its fluids, and replaced with an embalming fluid. When a person dies, the body starts to break down, and it isn’t pleasant to look at or be around. So the fluid is used to preserve the body, and to keep it from breaking down naturally after death which can happen very quickly.
Why would people do this? Embalming is used to keep a body looking natural after death so that it can be viewed at a funeral. Some people are embalmed because they are so famous. Lenin is embalmed in Russia, and other famous people have been preserved so that they can be viewed by others, or for keeping them fit for the afterlife.
Another reason is for sanitation. People will be cleaned in a solution which will kill any germs or anything else that might be lingering. The chemicals that are used in the embalming process are ethanol, and methanol along with formaldehyde and other chemicals. These chemicals are what keeps the body fresh and doesn’t allow it to break down.
It is a good thing that there are embalming practices that people use. Without them a funeral would be even more depressing than they are. At least now you can keep a body for viewing, and you can see a person one last time before they are buried. This gives some comfort to the family, and others who might want to pay respects. It is also something that allows one last piece of dignity for the deceased.
