Mourning, Funerals, and Superstitions: Deathly Victorian Traditions

In an era that defined the individual based on adherence to proper etiquette, not even death proved to be an exception to this rule. There was a certain way in Victorian England in which everything was to be done, even when it came to laying the departed to rest. 

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) ruled over
the UK and Ireland from the time she
was 18 years old (2). 

Victorian mourning traditions were largely ushered in after 1861; it was at this time that Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert died, succumbing to Typhoid Fever (2). Her extended mourning over her beloved prince brought about new conventions that are still seen today. For example, Victoria wore black and other muted colors for years after her husband's death, cementing black as the most appropriate color for those in mourning (7). 

A chart from the book Round About
a Pound a Week details the funeral
costs for a child who died from
cholera (3).

Life expectancy was quite low in England at this time. Diseases such as diphtheria, typhus, and cholera were common, and it wasn't abnormal for children to die at a very young age (1). As such, many families often began saving up for funerals while their loved ones were still alive and well. Families in the lower classes would often have to choose between daily essentials (such as heat or food) or setting aside funds to ensure they'd have proper funeral funding as per the standards of the time (3).  

Above is an example of
a wreath that could be placed
at the front entrance of a
home in mourning (4).

Once a family member had actually passed, there were many customs (driven by superstition) that would often take place. Regular life would be put on hold for a family as they prepared the departed for the public spectacle that was a Victorian funeral. Curtains would be drawn in the home and windows were covered to prevent the spirit of the dead from being "trapped" within a reflection (4). A wreath tied with dark fabric would also be hung on the front entrance to the home of the deceased,  ensuring that everyone who passed by knew that the family was in mourning (4). Additionally, the traditional "wake" that many families still hold today originated from this era, as the dead were watched over constantly in the days leading up to their public burial. Not only did this ensure that visiting family members were given enough time to travel, but it also helped confirm that the deceased was actually dead and not simply in a coma (4).  

Another common post-death practice that would be viewed as "creepy" today was the art of taking commemorative photos with the deceased loved one—after the family member was already dead. As photography technology advanced throughout the 1800's, having portraits done by professional photographers grew increasingly more affordable. According to the BBC, the catalyst for many families in deciding to get a photo taken of a family member was often their death. After all, this would be their last chance to create something to preserve their memory (1). These chilling images often show living relatives posing next to the corpse of a family member. As the subjects in these photos had to sit still for a long time while the photo was created, the deceased often appear much clearer in the photo than its living subjects.

A group of four children stand next to their deceased sister (left)
who was propped up in order for the photo to be taken (1).

The photo on the left provides a great example of how much
clearer the deceased appear in these photos next to living
relatives. On the right is an example of a memento that would be
given to family members of the deceased (1). 

A group of family members pose around a deceased child placed
on the floor. Another example of a distributed memento is
shown to the right (1).  

An image of the funural procession of
Queen Victoria exemplifies the way
a Victorian procession was set up
during this time (7).  

Funeral processions themselves were also very elaborate (and costly) affairs. Since processions were expected to be impressive public spectacles, funeral directors first appeared during this era. They would put together parades of horses carrying ornately decorated hearses (complete with glass panels to allow for those passing by to observe the body) (5). Professional mourners could also be hired to follow the body, giving the impression that the deceased was of great importance (5).








Even after the dead were buried and laid to rest, the same could not be said for Victorian superstitions. Although medicine and technology were advancing during this time period, there were still fears over mistakenly burying someone still alive. This common fear of premature burial led to many coffins designed with a built-in safety system. Such coffins included a string attached to a bell that would be placed above-ground so that anyone who was buried alive could simply pull on the string to alert passersby that they were, in fact, not actually dead (8). 

A sketch of a Victorian "safety coffin" (8).

Works Cited 

(1) Bell, Bethan. “Taken from life: The unsettling art of death photography.” BBC, 5  June 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36389581. 

(2) Biography.com Editors. “Queen Victoria Biography.” Biography.com, 27 February 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/queen-victoria-9518355.

(3) Cryer, Pat. “Costs of dying in early 20^th century Britain.” 1900s.org, https://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-funerals-cost.htm. 

(4) Friends of Oak Grove Cemetery. “Victorian Funeral Customs and Superstitions.” Friends of Oak Grove Cemetery, https://friendsofoakgrovecemetery.org/victorian-funeral-customs-fears-and-superstitions/. 

(5) Lang, Leslie. 13 Fascinating Victorian Funeral Customs.” Ancestry, https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/13-fascinating-victorian-funeral-customs/.  

(6) Russell. Queen Victoria's Funeral: Leaving Windsor Castle for the Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore. 1910, The Life and Times of King Edward VII, by Whates, Harry Richard, London Cassell, p. 7.

(7) Telegraph Financial Solutions. “A Short History of Funerals in Britain.” The Telegraph, 15 February 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/financial-services/retirement-solutions/funeral-plans/history-british-funerals/. 

(8) Waugh, Lisa. “22 Morbid Death and Mourning Customs from the Victorian Era.” Ranker, https://www.ranker.com/list/victorian-death-and-mourning-customs/lisa-waugh.