Most people are familiar with the trope of wearing black to a funeral. But where does that come from and is it for everyone and every culture?
Wearing black attire for a funeral dates all the way back to ancient Rome and Greece. In these ancient civilizations, mourners wore dark colored garments as a sign of respect for the deceased.
In the Victorian age, the color black for mourning became a display of status and it symbolized wealth and opulence. Black was an expensive color to produce. White and brown were more practical and still acceptable colors for mourning at the time.
As so often happens in western culture, what to wear for mourning and to a funeral became a business. Mourning attire became a part of the fashion industry and lengthy rules and etiquette accompanied the trend. This article from The Atlantic goes into further detail.
While the long-term mourning attire trend has faded, western cultures today continue to honor the memory of their lost loved ones with black and dark colors at funerals. There is comfort in tradition, after all.
Black is also prevalent funeral attire in much of eastern Europe, Japan, and Brazil. In Thailand mourners don black, but widows wear purple. White, red, and yellow also have a rich history in funeral attire across the world. Love to Know breaks it all down.
In the contemporary African American community, the immediate family often creates a dress theme. As a guest, you might be invited to wear a complementary shade of a color or a custom-designed shirt, for example.
While the tradition of wearing black to a funeral persists, modern funeral attire also may include dark shades of gray, navy blue, or other subdued colors. This reflects a shift toward a more flexible interpretation of mourning attire.
Funeral traditions are important and often are a show of respect for the family and for the deceased. Black and dark colors are generally a safe option when attending a funeral or memorial. If the family has specific plans in mind, rest assured, you will be notified.