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Victorian Timetable of Family Mourning; What a weird read
Topic Started: Oct 14 2006, 05:02 AM (92 Views)
Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Was reading something today that was both very interesting and very insane. Queen Victoria was out of her gourd, that much I know for certain. Anyways, check this out if you want to learn something entirely useless and random (but interesting):

VICTORIAN MOURNING

After her death of her beloved Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria set the standard for mourning. Befitting the age, outward displays were key: grief was represented on many levels, from the use of black-lined stationery and jet-black jewelry to elaborate funeral arrangements and periods of self-imposed social exile. Curiously, the period of mourning was decided not by personal sentiment but by a socially understood timetable of grief. For example:

Death of…………Period of mourning
Husband……..….2-3 years
Wife……....………three months
Parent/Child……one year
Sibling………..….six months
Etc.

These individual mourning periods were themselves subdivided into first mourning, second mourning, ordinary, and half-mourning. By tradition first mourning was the deepest and lasted a year and a day. Each of these periods had its own subtle code – down to the shade of black, the types of cloth worn, and the width of hat-bands. Older children were expected to mourn alongside their parents, but often very young children were excused mourning dress. Servants’ Mourning was normally considered appropriate after the death of a senior member of the household; when imposed, it usually lasted for at least six months. Never one to do things by half, Victoria wore mourning dress for the forty years until her death.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Husband.. 2-3 years.. wife - 3 months. Hmmmm.

A lot more people died young then. Seems like you'd be in mourning all the time. But then I've never thought Victorian England the era I'd like to live in anyway.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
that disparity was probably an attempt to prevent the springing up of a special branch of the world's oldest profession to service men in mourning. Mommy dies in childbirth...older kids still in 'official' mourning...man calls in Women in Black for a good time.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I love entreprenuerial spirit in a woman. :biggrin:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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