Mourning is, in the simplest sense, grief over someone’s death. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which family, friends, and loved ones participate. The practice of mourning loved ones is a tradition that occurs in every culture and is rich in diversity. The mourning period and method are usually determined by the culture and religion that people are a part of, and although many traditions are similar, there are many unique practices that occur in different areas of the world. As the global community interacts more frequently, it is important to be aware of the traditions and increase cultural awareness.
Some actions of mourning include:
- Funeral
- Wearing black after a death has occurred
- Praying for the deceased
- Wake/ceremony
- Cremation/burial
- Fingerprint necklaces
- Wearing ashes around neck/in ring
- Getting a tattoo in honor of someone
- Mourning portraits (these are portraits of deceased persons shown on their deathbed in their best clothes, a special headdress, and some sort of token in their hand, more common in the 1600/1700s)
(“Mourning,” 2020)
