Do you really know? Why is black associated with grief?
Nov 7, 2025
Explore the intriguing journey of how black became synonymous with grief in Western culture, influenced largely by Queen Victoria's mourning attire mandates. Discover the ancient origins of funeral dress and the shift brought by early Christianity. Uncover the ties between the Black Death and black's rise as the mourning color. Compare global mourning traditions, revealing vibrant colors used in different cultures, such as white in India and blue in Iran. Finally, delve into modern funerals where color choices reflect personal and cultural significance.
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Black Became Western Mourning Colour
- Black became linked to mourning in the West during the Middle Ages and solidified after the Black Death in the 14th century.
- Queen Victoria's extended public mourning further cemented black as the default Western funeral colour.
Queen Victoria's Personal Mourning Example
- Queen Victoria mandated widows wear black for at least a year after Prince Albert's death in 1861.
- She famously wore only black for the last 40 years of her life, modelling strict Victorian mourning conventions.
Mourning Colours Shifted Over Time
- Early Romans wore black to mark death, but Christianity later discouraged black due to its association with lack of divine light.
- Thus mourning colours shifted over time before black re-emerged in later centuries.