Mourning

Mourning is in the simplest sense synonymous with grief over the death of someone.

Religious Customs

Judaism

Shivah is a Jewish mourning practice in which people adjust their behaviour as an expression of their bereavement. In the West, typically, mirrors are covered to indicate a lack of interest in personal vanity, and the bereaved person dress simply and sit on boxes rather than chairs when receiving the condolences of visitors. English speakers use the expression "to sit Shiva".

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Christianity

The European social forms described above are in general the Christian religious expressions transferred to the greater community.

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In addition to personal mourning for a deceased loved one; Christians Churches often go into mourning symbolically in the period from Lent to Easter to commemorate the sacrifice and death of Jesus. Customs vary among the denominations and include the covering or removal of statuary, icons and paintings, and use of special liturgical colours during Lent and Holy Week.

Related Topics:
Lent - Easter - Jesus - Holy Week

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In more formal congregations, parishioners also dress according to specific forms during Holy Week, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, where it is still common to wear black or sombre dress or liturgical purple.

Related Topics:
Maundy Thursday - Good Friday

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