What are some ancient, not so ancient and even modern day forms or symbols of mourning?

Question

In my spiritual order we wear bands or bracelets for a period of time annually and then there is an annual feast to observe the end of the mourning.

I'm curious as to what other people do.

Answer 1

British Victorians had all kinds of black jewelry that were created just for mourning, to go along with their black clothes. A lot of the pieces were made of jet. Some of them were cameos with the dead person's face carved into it in relief. Sometimes people wore lockets that had the image of the dead person's profile on them, a dedication to that person inscribed in it with their birth and death dates and a lock of their hair in the locket.

Ancient Roman women were expected to "beat their breasts," i.e., strike their chests with their fists, pull their hair out and moan and cry at funerals. If you didn't want to do that or didn't have enough people to mourn at the funeral you could actually hire women to mourn for your loved one at the funeral.

Widows in Europe and the United States in the past were expected to stay mostly confined to the house for one year, except for going to church. You were supposed to turn down any social invitations (and people were supposed to know not to send them to you in the first place.)

Answer 2

Wearing a black armband on the upper arm.

Wearing dark or black clothes, sometimes gradually moving back to lighter colors - to purple, lilac, etc.

In some parts of the world wearing white is a symbol of mourning.

Closing the curtains or blinds all over the house from the time the person died until the body was buried.

Not attending any festive events for a year.

The celebration of All Souls Day, or the Day of the Dead, November 1.

Flags at half mast.

Wearing poppies for Remembrance Day/Veterans Day.

Ravens, crows, and other black birds were considered a sign that a death would occur.

Wearing a mourning ring.

Wailing or lamenting.

Sitting shivah.

Here are a few interesting links. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Of all the symbols of mourning, the Urn was the most frequently used. Ancient Etruscans would enclose the vital organs of the deceased in urns,
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Answer 4

The traditional wearing of black during the time of breavement. From death to burial svc.

A funeral wreath on the outside of the house. After the funeral service there is a special meal.

Answer 5

In Eastern Europe, we wear black or dark clothes, men usually wear a black band on their sleeves. The period depends on how close you were to the person who passed away.