Funeral Traditions of the Past
Could some historical traditions be making a comeback?
Image by mdjaff on Freepik
Embarking on a historical odyssey, we delve into the intriguing tapestry of bygone funeral traditions. From the solemnity of post-mortem portraits to the sartorial elegance of Victorian mourning attire, our exploration unveils the unique practices that once defined the farewell rituals of yesteryear. As we navigate through these distinctive customs, there's a contemplative twist to our journey — could the cyclical nature of trends see a resurgence in some of these unconventional funeral practices? Let’s examine the past and juxtapose the historical with the prospect of a nuanced revival.
Post-Mortem Photography
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was not uncommon for families in Western cultures to take photographs of their deceased loved ones. These post-mortem photographs were often the only visual memento of the departed. Controversially, in today’s “selfie society,” it is not uncommon to see selfies with the deceased on social media. (See our blog post on Funeral Selfies)
Victorian Mourning Jewelry
During the Victorian era, mourning jewelry became popular. Pieces were crafted from materials like jet, which were believed to have protective qualities, and often contained locks of the deceased's hair. With the current preference for cremation versus intact burial, it is commonplace for the grieving to wear memorial jewelry containing a small portion of the cremated remains of their loved one.
Home Funerals
In the past, it was common for families to prepare and host funerals for their loved ones at home. This involved washing and dressing the body, and the deceased would remain in the family home until the funeral service. There is a current movement led by organizations like the National Home Funeral Alliance to bring back the home funeral.
Widow's Weeds
Widows in the 19th century often followed strict mourning etiquette, wearing "widow's weeds" or all-black mourning attire for an extended period. The duration of mourning and the stages of clothing varied depending on cultural and societal norms. These days it’s still typical to wear black or dark colors to funeral services and there still are some things that are considered more “tasteful” to do after a death but the strict mourning etiquette of the past has fallen to history.
Death Masks
Creating death masks, casts of a person's face after death, was a practice that gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries. These masks served as memorials and were sometimes displayed in the homes of the deceased's family. With the many options available for the memorialization of cremated remains (see Post) there are alternatives that, although don’t depict the face of the deceased, provide a similar sense of memorialization and meaning.
Funeral Cards
Before the widespread use of obituaries, families often distributed funeral cards or mourning cards. These cards contained details about the deceased and were given to friends and acquaintances as a way to announce the death and provide funeral information. Today, prayer cards or funeral cards are distributed at the funeral event, but rarely distributed beyond that.
Horse Drawn Hearse Processions
In the past, funeral processions involving a hearse drawn by horses were a common sight. Today, while motorized hearses are standard, the traditional horse-drawn hearse is now reserved for ceremonial and historical events. Even the motorized hearse procession is becoming less and less popular in the funeral events of today.
Funeral practices evolve over time, and many of these traditions have given way to more contemporary and standardized funeral customs but still harken to days gone by.
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose—The more things change the more they stay the same.”