HIS373 Podcast Episode

In this episode of Untold Pages, the host explores Victorian death rituals. During the 19th century, death was a natural part of life and mourning was a spectacle. Elaborate funeral customs and mourning attire were used to honor the deceased and navigate the complexities of grief within Victorian society. These practices were influenced by religious beliefs, social expectations, and sentimental values. Mourning clothing served as a symbolic language, with black representing solemnity and respect. Different stages of mourning were reflected in the style and cut of the garments. Accessories like mourning jewelry and veils were also important. Victorian society had strict norms regarding grief and mourning, with a focus on a "good death" and controlled expressions of sorrow. These norms were influenced by religion and gender expectations. Overall, Victorian death rituals reflected a complex system of rituals and attitudes towards death and loss. Hello, and welcome to Untold Pages, where we explore the fascinating world of history and culture in bite-sized episodes. I'm your host, Sarah Vincent, a second-year history student at Ulster University, Coleraine. In today's episode, we're going to be going back in time to investigate an eerie and intriguing topic, Victorian death rituals. In the 19th century, the Victorian era was distinguished by a distinctive and frequently elaborate approach to death and mourning. Death was both a natural part of life and a spectacle to behold, with elaborate funeral customs and intricate mourning attire. Join me as we journey through the sombre yet captivating world of Victorian death rituals. We'll investigate the reasons for the elaborate mourning practices, the symbolism imbued in mourning attire, and the societal norms that governed grief during this period. Through examining these customs and traditions, we will gain insight into the ways in which death was not only mourned, but also celebrated and remembered in Victorian society. So dim the lights and prepare to journey back in time, and let's explore the intriguing world of Victorian death together. To gain a wider understanding, I think it is important to firstly consider how different is a Victorian view of death to our modern conception of it today. I think that the main difference is that death was a part of everyday life in Victorian society. It was not hidden or neatly tucked away in hospitals like it is today. Many people in the 21st century have probably never even seen a dead body, whereas in the 19th century this was simply impossible. Hospitals were extremely limited in the type of illnesses and diseases that they would treat, with the majority being for specific diseases. Those who could afford it were cared for at home, however for others in this period, hospitals were their very last resort. Everybody witnessed death, whether it was siblings or infant death, which was vastly more common than we know today. Infant death accounted for a much, much larger percentage of deaths than old age did in this time. Now that we have gained an understanding of the differing views on death, I think that we should consider the reasons behind the Victorians' elaborate mourning practices. In the Victorian era, elaborate mourning practices were deeply ingrained in societal norms and were maintained for a variety of reasons. These practices served not only to honour the deceased, but also to help the living navigate the complexities of grief within a strict social structure. First and foremost, Victorian mourning customs were heavily influenced by religious beliefs and societal expectations. Christianity had a significant impact on attitudes towards death during this time period, with the idea of a virtuous and peaceful death being held in high regard. Therefore, elaborate mourning rituals were viewed as a way to show respect for the deceased soul and ensure their safe passage into the afterlife. The strict Victorian social hierarchy required that one's status and reputation continue even after death. Families used lavish mourning rituals to display their wealth and social standing. Expensive funerals, mourning attire and elaborate gravestones were frequently used to demonstrate the family's wealth and respectability. The Victorians had a deeply sentimental attitude towards death and mourning, influenced in part by the Romantic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Embracing themes of nostalgia, melancholy and emotional expression, Victorians saw mourning as an opportunity to publicly express their love and devotion to the deceased. Individuals were able to express their grief outwardly and participate in a shared cultural experience of loss by engaging in elaborate mourning practices, such as wearing only black clothing, displaying mourning jewellery and observing extended mourning periods. The Victorian era's high mortality rates, particularly among infants and young children, made death a constant presence in everyday life. In the face of such widespread loss, elaborate mourning customs helped individuals and communities to cope with grief and find solace in shared traditions. The Victorians' reasons for adopting elaborate mourning customs were multifaceted, including religious beliefs, social expectations, sentimental values and coping mechanisms for dealing with widespread mortality. These customs not only honoured the deceased, but also helped people navigate the complex emotions of death within the confines of Victorian society. The Victorians had differing views when it came to clothing in a period of mourning. In Victorian society, mourning clothing was more than just a practical necessity. It also served as a symbolic language that communicated the wearer's grief and social status. Every aspect of mourning attire, from the fabric and colour to the accessories and embellishments, was imbued with symbolic meaning, reflecting the complicated emotions surrounding death and loss. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Victorian mourning attire was its strict adherence to colour codes. Black was the most common colour worn during mourning, representing solemnity, respect and the absence of light. Mourning garments were typically made of matte fabrics like crepe, which absorbed light and emphasised the sombre nature of mourning. The style and cut of mourning attire were carefully chosen to reflect the stages of mourning as well as the relationship with the deceased. Widows, for example, were expected to wear full mourning attire for an extended period of time, which typically consisted of heavy black garments with minimal embellishments. As the mourning period progressed, widows could change into second mourning attire, which included subtle touches of white or grey. Finally, they could enter a stage known as half-mourning, in which muted colours and more elaborate fabrics were permitted. Accessories were also important in Victorian mourning attire, and they were often symbolic. Mourning jewellery, such as lockets containing a lock of the deceased's hair or pieces made of black jet or onks, served as physical reminders of the deceased and expressions of grief. Furthermore, veils, gloves and fangs were frequently worn to shield the mourner's face and emotions from public view, emphasising the private nature of grief. Mourning attire was used to indicate social status and propriety in Victorian society. The cost and quality of mourning garments were a reflection of the wearer's wealth and status, with elaborate mourning attire reserved for the elite. Those with less means, on the other hand, were frequently forced to wear simpler, less expensive mourning attire, despite adhering to the same strict mourning codes. Victorian mourning attire was a deeply symbolic language that conveyed the wearer's grief, social status and adherence to societal norms regarding death and mourning. Every aspect of mourning attire, from fabric and colour to garment and accessory style, was carefully considered and meaning-laden, reflecting Victorian society's complex rituals and attitudes towards death. In the Victorian era, societal norms surrounding grief were deeply ingrained in rigid codes of conduct and etiquette, dictating how people were expected to express and navigate their emotions following the death of a family member. These norms were influenced not only by religious beliefs, but also by social expectations and cultural practices that governed all aspects of mourning. One of the most prominent societal norms that governed grief in the Victorian era was the concept of a good death. Death was regarded not only as an inevitable part of life, but also as a test of one's faith and virtue. A good death was one that took place peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, and with the deceased showing acceptance of their fate. This concept of a good death influenced how people were expected to react to loss, with expressions of stoicism, piety and acceptance highly valued. There was a widespread belief in the value of controlled or restrained grief, with excessive displays of emotion deemed inappropriate or even shameful. Mourners were expected to maintain a dignified demeanour and avoid excessive displays of sorrow in public settings, especially as the mourning period progressed. Furthermore, societal norms surrounding grief were frequently gendered, with men and women being held to different standards in terms of mourning expression. While women were expected to embody the ideal of the grieving widow, men were frequently encouraged to channel their grief into productive outlets, such as work or philanthropy, rather than openly expressing their feelings. Victorian societal norms governing grief were deeply rooted in religious beliefs, societal expectations and cultural practices that prescribed specific mourning behaviours and expressions. We say goodbye to the Victorian era and its customs surrounding death. Let us carry on the lessons learned from their rich tapestry of rituals and traditions, and may we continue to explore, comprehend and appreciate the various ways in which cultures past and present deal with the profound experience of death and loss. Thank you for joining us on our journey through Victorian Death Rituals.