Victorian Mourning Traditions, Funerals And Superstitions

Victorians expressed their sadness and grief after one of their loved ones had passed away in many different ways. There were certain traditions and superstitions regarding the mourning period, funerals and death. Also, to be buried alive was one of their biggest fears.

Queen Victoria's Mourning Period

Queen Victoria was in mourning  for 40 years after the death of her husband, Albert, in 1861. She was the first one to start the 'trend' of wearing black clothes. Keeping her home exactly the way it was when Albert was alive, the servants would change his bed linens, set out his clothes and bring hot water and his shaving cup. The glass that he took his last dose of medicine from stayed on his bedside table for almost 40 years. 

Prince Albert's painting or bust was included in every portat and photograph taken of the royal family, making it look like he was still with them.

Mourning Clothes 

People would dress in black outfits to show others that they are in mourning. Fabrics and colours would change over time to show how long it has been since the death of their loved one. E.g. if someone experienced the loss of a close relative, they would wear their mourning attire in varying states for about two to two and a half years. Since the mortality rates were pretty high, people would wear these clothes for most of their lives.

Women would usually wear black crepe dresses with black detailing, even black ribbons tied to their underwear. Purple and grey were the two colours, besides black, worn in the 'half mourning' period. Men wore mourning coats, and black gloves and black bands on their hats in their 'half mourning' period. 

Men were allowed to work while in mourning, but women stayed at home. Visitors were alowed after the mourning period was over. 

Mourning Jewelery

This was a quite personal way of mourning and keeping the ones you lost with you at all times. Bracelets, necklaces, rings and lockets were made and 'decorated' with a lock of hair cut from the head of the dead. Some lockets contained a photograph instead of hair, some both.  

Queen Victoria was also responsable for this 'trend', as she made everyone in her court wear black jewelery. The most expensive jewelery was made out of jet, fossilized coal found near Whitby, England. Cheaper jewelery included alternatives such as black glass, black enamel, brown oak and vulcanite.

A mourning locket with a lock of hair and a photograph

1832

(source: https://victorianmonsters.wordpress.com/victorian-funerary-practices/)

Graveyards

During the 19th century graves became a lot more elaborate and extravagant monuments were built according to what each family could afford. A graveyard was a place for reflection and popular weekend excursions for the entire family, expecially among the middle classes. 

Funerals

Previously funerals were arranged between the church and family, but with the rise of mortality along came the funeral directors. That would usually be a side-line job of a local carpented or job-master (the one who hired out horses). Black horses would pull previously consturcted hearses decorated with ostrich feathers and flowers.Professional mourners, Mutes, were hired to follow the coffin, and the family of the deceast would prepare a feast for the gathered friends and family.

As funerals became so expesive, parents would save up for the likely death for at least one of their children. Soon, providing a good and respectable funeral became a way to show off your wealth.

Victorian home in mourning

photograph

(source: http://seniorconnectionwaco.com/event/spiritualism-and-victorian-funeral-customs-exhibit/)

Meaning of the term 'Good Death'

Early Victorians wanted to provide their loved ones an slow end; to give enough time for everyone to say their last goodbyes and to prepare spiritually for that important moment. Families would gather around the bed, hoping to hear their last words, or witness religious raptures - which never happened. On the other hand, late Victorians hoped for a painless and quick death. 

The fear of being buried alive

This morbit fear developed among many people during the 18th and 19th century. Therefore, different devices were invented to alert others if something like this ever happened. Safety coffins that had a tope fixed to the bell on top of the grave, so whoever found themselves in that situation could simply ring the bell. Some safety coffins had tubes and mirrors which would allow gravediggers to check if the person is still alive. 

Mirrors

Since the 16th century, there was a belief that all the mirrors in the house of the deceased had to be covered after death. They believed that a mirror was a reflection and an embodiment of one's soul and that after a person died, their soul got trapped in a mirror and was taken away by the devil. If you saw yourself in a mirror in the room where had recently died, you would die shortly after, too.

http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-death/death-rituals-and-superstitions
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2000/04/05/death.html
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-death/victorians-and-the-art-of-dying
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/fine-jewelry/mourning
reference found on Feb 15th 2015