# How can I make myself into a Halloween decoration after death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228 "2025-10-23T16:53:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/21 "2025-10-24T01:02:23Z")
I don’t know all the details, but I ran across several sites that said, in effect, “if you think you can get around this law by making your back yard an established cemetery, don’t bother trying”. It appears that in California, just part of the process is getting a “Certificate of Authority”, via [this simple 12-step process](https://www.cfb.ca.gov/licensee/certauth.shtml). There are also requirements for zoning and other stuff that I don’t feel like researching. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/22 "2025-10-24T01:36:42Z")
You could have your body [plasticized](https://bodyworlds.com/plastination/plastination-technique/), which would make a fantastic Halloween decoration. The drawback is you have to donate your body to the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg to have it done, so your heirs would only be able to visit it at whatever medical school or body world exhibit it ends up in. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/23 "2025-10-24T05:24:16Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > Not sure what the cause of action would be here, or damages for that matter. She believed it was the mailman’s duty to make sure the man was okay. Maybe he was still alive and could have been saved. But it is an old story and I can’t remember any other details. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/24 "2025-10-24T06:17:39Z")
As well as de-fleshing, which can be done by dermestid beetles or more slowly by other things like ants, you need to de-grease the bones and get rid of the collagen. Otherwise you will end up with something like the dog’s 4 week old bone, which is still sticky and rank. When I trained back in the good old days when we asked no questions, petrol or similar was used for degreasing the medical cadavers supplied from places like India. While this would all be a brilliant science project for the kids, all up its probably better being done by professionals. Either that or spending a year or two before you cark it practising your technique on the neighbourhood’s pets and strays. Note - send a note to police explaining you are not a would-be serial killer sicko family. It may vary by jurisdiction, but your heirs do not necessarily own your body after your death. That would probably require specific provision in the will. And even if they did own you, your local public health laws may only allow dead bodies to only be in a morgue, funeral home, hospital or hole in the ground without specific exemption. Personally, it would be easier if you wanted to be turned into a pinata. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/25 "2025-10-24T12:19:53Z")
I think state laws vary a great deal. In some, it’s not too hard to get a permit to bury your dad. In others, it’s basically impossible. So i think the OP needs to research this and be careful in which state he dies. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/26 "2025-10-24T13:01:30Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > It looks like I can buy my own dermestid beetles for $250, but I’m doubtful my wife will put up with 4-6 months of my body stinking up the basement while I’m slowly consumed. Figuring out the right temperature fire seems easier. You seem pretty dedicated to this. Need answer fast? I hope you’re not shooting for _this_ Halloween. > [@blondebear](#): > > You could have your body [plasticized](https://bodyworlds.com/plastination/plastination-technique/), which would make a fantastic Halloween decoration. The drawback is you have to donate your body to the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg to have it done This is not a bad plan, and the link goes to a page that basically explaines the whole process. It sounds fairly involved, but maybe not beyond the abilities of a home amateur. There’s also good old-fashioned mummification. I thought of the story of Elmer McCurdy, though his body was preserved with a whole lot of arsenic. You’d probably want to use some safer preservation chemicals, if such chemicals are available. > **[The Outlaw Whose Mummy Became a Traveling Show Prop](https://www.history.com/articles/elmer-mccurdy-mummy-dead-outlaw)** > > Elmer McCurdy died in 1911, but the outlaw's remains lived on. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/27 "2025-10-24T13:11:50Z")
I was listening to some guy on the radio who did practical archeology. I forget what he called it, but he tried to do stuff that ancient people did, like knapping flint, tanning hides in urine, etc. one thing he did was mummify a fish. He says it was really easy. And he didn’t use anything especially dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/28 "2025-10-24T13:32:39Z")
A friend of mine has a kid in sixth grade whose class is embarking on a “chicken mummification” project. They bury a Cornish game hen in a mixture of mostly salt and baking soda, and change it out once a week, measuring moisture and weight loss as they go. After a few months — chicken mummy. So what I’m saying is, you’re gonna need a shitload of salt and Arm & Hammer. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/29 "2025-10-24T13:36:17Z")
Well, that would be very awkward if they have to wait for your flesh to rot off. You could stipulate in your Will that your flesh be completely removed and your skeleton “donated” to your family. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/30 "2025-10-24T20:25:50Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I was listening to some guy on the radio who did practical archeology. I forget what he called it, but he tried to do stuff that ancient people did, like knapping flint, tanning hides in urine, etc. Gotta be careful though. In the book _Silence of the Lambs_, Buffalo Bill\* found out that a Native American belief that every animal has a large enough brain to use in a recipe for its own tanning was wrong. \*a.k.a. “Mr. Hide”. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/31 "2025-10-24T20:40:09Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > A friend of mine has a kid in sixth grade whose class is embarking on a “chicken mummification” project. They bury a Cornish game hen in a mixture of mostly salt and baking soda, and change it out once a week, measuring moisture and weight loss as they go. After a few months — chicken mummy. > > So what I’m saying is, you’re gonna need a shitload of salt and Arm & Hammer. That may be what he used. I remember thinking it was common chemicals that aren’t especially difficult to get nor dangerous to use. ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228/32 "2025-10-25T14:46:36Z")
How soon we forget. [https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-blow-people-minds-at-my-funeral/75280](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-blow-people-minds-at-my-funeral/75280) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228.md?page=1)