Victorian Funerary Rites

Shadows & Seances

When Charlotte Hartwell started working in her family’s floral shop in Boston she never knew the impact her arrangements would have on their clients. From elaborate floral sprays to simple, herbal bouquets to comfort the grief-stricken, Charlotte was happy to help. But flowers were not the only service provided during a Victorian funeral.

Across the pond, Charlotte's cousin, Miss Amelia Reed, had more responsibilities after taking over the family business, Reed's Funeral Parlor. Although her tale is a bit more thrilling than the quieter life of a florist.

Read Charlotte's and Amelia's stories, coming up on Sunday, and read below for traditions and superstitions the Victorians followed during this era when a death occurred.

Beyond the Veil

During the Victorian era (1837–1901), funerary rites and mourning practices became highly elaborate and ritualized, reflecting the period’s attitudes toward death and social propriety. These customs were deeply influenced by Queen Victoria’s prolonged mourning after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. Her example set a standard that permeated various aspects of society’s approach to death and bereavement.

Victorian Funeral Customs

Economic and Social Implications

The importance placed on proper funerals led many families, regardless of economic status, to save diligently for burial expenses. The prospect of a pauper's grave was a significant fear, prompting even impoverished families to prioritize funeral funds over daily necessities.

This emphasis on elaborate funerals contributed to the growth of the funeral industry, with specialized attire, accessories, and services becoming widely available. Mourning clothes, jewelry, stationery, and even household items were expected to be purchased. The social pressure to adhere to mourning customs placed financial burdens on families across social classes.

Read on to learn what was necessary for a “proper” funeral.

Funeral Wreaths

The family would hang a wreath of laurel, yew, or boxwood tied with crape or black ribbons on the front door to let passersby know a death had occurred. This served as a public symbol of mourning and invited the community to share in the family’s grief.  

We may send flowers now to show sympathy, but in the Victorian era, flowers and candles were used for something more practical - to mask the smell of the body before the burial. I'm sure Miss Hartwell would have crafted many funeral wreaths and more practical arrangements in her floral shop.

Funerary Hatchments

Funerary hatchments were heraldic displays created upon an individual’s death. Typically diamond-shaped, these panels bore the deceased’s coat of arms and were initially placed above the entrance of their residence, remaining for six to twelve months before being moved to the parish church.

The design and background colors of the hatchment conveyed specific information, such as whether the deceased was married and if their spouse was still alive. For instance, a black background on one side indicated the death of a husband, while a white background on the opposite side signified a surviving wife. This practice served both as a public announcement of mourning and a tribute to the individual’s lineage.

Last Offices

The “last offices” referred to the procedures performed shortly after death to prepare the body for viewing and burial. These tasks were typically undertaken by nurses or family members and included closing the eyes, washing and dressing the body, and positioning it appropriately. Such practices were not only acts of respect but also adhered to cultural and religious norms of the time.

Memento Mori and Post-Mortem Photography

Post-mortem photography became a common practice, especially for children, as it often provided the only visual remembrance of the deceased. These photographs aimed to capture the likeness of the departed, sometimes posing them to appear lifelike or as if they were sleeping.

Memento mori, Latin for “remember you must die,” encompassed various keepsakes, including jewelry or intricate artworks made from the deceased’s hair, serving as tangible reminders of mortality and loved ones lost.

(I debated putting in at least one of these images, but I find them so creepy that I’ll let you go look if you are interested.)

Mourning Stationery

Correspondence during mourning periods was conducted using special stationery bordered in black, known as mourning stationery. The width of the black border indicated the closeness of the relationship to the deceased and the mourning stage. This practice extended to calling cards and envelopes, serving as a subtle announcement of one’s loss to acquaintances and business associates.

Funeral Processions

Funeral processions were significant public events, reflecting the social status of the deceased. Elaborate processions included horse-drawn hearses adorned with black plumes, accompanied by multiple carriages for family and mourners. The community often lined the streets to pay their respects as the cortege passed by. Such displays underscored the importance placed on honoring the dead and the family’s social standing.

Funeral Biscuits

At Victorian funerals, it was customary to offer guests “funeral biscuits,” small cakes wrapped in white paper and sealed with black wax. These tokens served both as refreshments and mementos of the deceased. Some biscuits were imprinted with Biblical verses or the name of the departed, reflecting the era’s intertwining of mourning and social customs.

Mourning Attire and Periods

Mourning attire was a visible expression of grief, with strict guidelines, especially for women. These clothes were known as "widow's weeds". In the initial stage of “deep mourning,” widows wore dull black dresses made of non-reflective fabrics like crepe, accompanied by minimal or no jewelry. If jewelry was worn, it was black. A black silk “weeping veil” while outside or “widow’s cap” when inside was also customary. Typically, the cap was worn for a year and a day, and a widow could reenter society at the 3-month mark.

A woman in mourning clothes, style of the 1860s. (I have watched too many horror movies to think this look is nothing short of terrifying.)

After a designated period, typically one year and nine months, women transitioned to “half mourning,” for the last three, allowing for muted colors such as gray and lavender and modest ornamentation.

Men’s mourning customs were less stringent, often involving dark suits with black accessories like gloves and hatbands. The expected mourning duration varied depending on the relationship to the deceased: two years for widows, one year for children mourning parents or vice versa, and six months for siblings.

Victorian mourning dress. (This attire is much less scary.)

Victorian Funeral Superstitions

Keeping the Soul in the Body

The Victorians were very superstitious about death and had many rituals they adhered to. It was customary to stop the clock at the time of passing and not restart it until after the funeral.

If you’ve ever watched a horror movie, you’ve probably seen mirrors covered as they were thought to be a portal. This may have stemmed from this era. All mirrors were covered after a death to prevent the soul from escaping and Death from entering.

I’d think that would make a wake, keeping vigil with the body until the funeral, extra thrilling, especially since one reason for a wake was to make sure the person was actually deceased and didn't wake up.

A kinder reason for a wake was for family, friends, and neighbors to pay their respects before the funeral. Originally held in the deceased's home, this tradition eventually moved to funeral homes. In the religion I grew up in they are typically called a viewing rather than a wake.

To prevent the deceased’s spirit from beckoning the living, bodies were carried out of homes feet first. The fear of premature burial led to innovations like safety coffins equipped with bells, allowing the buried individual to signal if they were still alive. Additionally, graves were sometimes protected with iron cages or “mortsafes” to deter body snatchers, reflecting fears of grave robbery for medical dissection.

Sin Eaters

In some Victorian communities, particularly in rural areas, the ritual of “sin eating” was practiced. A designated person, known as a sin eater, consumed bread and ale placed atop the deceased’s body, symbolically absorbing their sins and ensuring the soul’s peaceful passage to the afterlife. This practice highlighted the period’s blend of superstition and religious belief.

Grave Goods

Some Victorians placed personal items, known as grave goods, into the coffin or grave of the deceased. These could include books, jewelry, or other cherished possessions, intended to comfort the departed in the afterlife or serve as symbols of their earthly life. This practice reflected the era’s views on death as a continuation of one’s personal journey.

Echoes of the Past

At the end of World War I, it was seen as indulgent to go into deep mourning or have extravagant funerals as so many soldiers had died, and the grief was worldwide. As a result, many of the Victorian funeral traditions phased out, although some survived. Who hasn’t pulled to the side of the road out of respect when a hearse with its lights on drives by leading a procession of cars to the cemetery?

Funeral wreaths and flowers are customary to send to show sympathy to the loved ones left behind. And, personally, I have placed small tokens into a coffin and around the gravestone of a loved one. It was a comfort to me to think my sister could see me leaving one of her favorite things for her – lipstick.

And while I have never been to a wake, my husband has been to several in England. And I am relieved Victorian mourning clothing and memento mori photography have gone out of fashion – thank you again, horror movie industry.

A Whisper in the Dark

These practices underscore the Victorian era’s complex relationship with death, blending deep respect for the deceased with societal expectations and personal expressions of grief. What are some traditions in your own family, religion or culture that may have stemmed from the Victorian era? Leave a comment below.