Mourning
How do we show grief?
As a nation.... Dressing in black clothes to signify a period of mourning has a long history, stretching back to the Roman period. By the 1800s in the UK mourning etiquette was important for everyone, but especially for the upper classes as an opportunity to display their position in society. When Queen Victoria’s husband Albert died in 1861 her grieving gave rise to a period of national mourning and also stimulated even more elaborate personal mourning practices.
Through religion.... For people with faith, the rules on how they must act following a death and the rituals they must perform are set out by their religious leaders and scriptures. Often this will involve praying for the soul of the deceased and a period of confinement, or removal from everyday life, for close family. It is also a time when the community gather and food is shared.
Through culture.... There are many rituals and ways of behaving that our society expects us to participate in following a death. These can change over time and are often partly combined with religious practices. Some rituals, like ceremonial crying or harming yourself in public, serve the purpose of expressing personal grief as well bonding with others in your social group.