Mourner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article refers to a person attending a funeral, for the Neotropical birds, see Mourner (bird).

A mourner is someone who is attending a funeral and is part of a funeral party. Mourning figures (French pleurants) have been conventional elements of tomb architecture since the Gothic period.

One in a period of mourning prescribed either by religious law or by popular custom. It is common, during this time, for some activities to be curtailed, usually those that are accompanied by expressions of joy or frivolous activities. While it has been the norm for mourners to wear black, Western cultures have moved away from this custom. However, one is still expected to remain somewhat subdued out of reverence and respect for the deceased. In Asia and Africa, mourners wear white.

One observing the anniversary of a loved one's death after the period of traditional mourning has ended. Such observances include: visiting the deceased's place of rest, lighting a candle, reciting prayers and others. Cemeteries have been a traditional place for mourners to honor their dead, but with space in the Earth running out, most mourners are content to look at the deceased person's ashes which were cremated.

After a period of mourning, in the nineteenth century there following a period of "half-mourning" (French demi-deil) in which purple was worn to alleviate the black.