Why is black associated with grief?

Joseph Chance (0:04)

Why is black associated with grief?

Thanks for asking.

A funeral is one of those rare occasions where you don't really need to think too much about your choice of outfits. After all, everyone wears black to funerals as a sign of grief, don't they? Well, that might be true in the western world, but it's not necessarily the case everywhere, which is what we're going to talk about today. In the western world, funeral customs have long been intertwined with strict dress codes. The tradition of mourning attire became widespread across Europe from the Middle Ages onwards, and was particularly stringent during the Victorian era in England. Queen Victoria herself mandated that widows wear black mourning attire, including jewellery, for at least a year. And she herself famously wore only black for the last 40 years of her life, after her husband Prince Albert passed away in 1861 Now, some of these strict customs have largely faded away, but black attire still remains synonymous with funerals in the western cultural sphere. Has that always been the case? Not at all. In ancient times, the emphasis was indeed on wearing dark clothing, but black was just one of several options. According to maricuri.org.uk, many historians trace the very earliest tradition of wearing black at funerals to the Roman Empire. The Romans were of course known for their white togas, but would switch them for black ones when marking a person's death. The rise of Christianity would actually see black fall out of favour due to its negative connotations and association with the absence of divine light. It wasn't until the 14th century that black became the predominant choice in western cultures. This shift coincided with the devastating impact of the black death, which engulfed Europe in mourning and forever linked black attire with grief. What about in other parts of the world then? Mourning practices vary widely across different cultures. In Iran, for example, blue symbolises eternal peace, while in India, Korea and Vietnam, white represents the purity of the departed soul. Meanwhile in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead in English, is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. The occasion actually sees cemeteries bursting with vibrant colours as they are adorned with bright flowers and fabrics.

In essence, morning colours reflect not only personal preferences but also cultural beliefs about death and the afterlife. In countries where death is viewed as a natural progression rather than a tragedy, the somberness of black attire gives way to a more diverse array of colours. Of course, black is still prevalent in Western funeral customs, but sometimes the choice of attire varies according to the wishes of the deceased or their loved ones. To cite just one example, in 2019, those attending the funeral of 58-year-old British trans woman Melissa Ede wore rainbow colours. That was to celebrate her life as an LGBT rights activist.

There you have it.

Now you know why black is associated with grief. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.