Very sad events sometimes happen in our life, for example, the death of a loved one. And the question arises - what is mourning, how to behave in order to honor the memory of the deceased, how many days to go in traditional black robes. The article will talk about the origin and meaning of this term, as well as introduce some interesting facts.
Etymology and General Importance
The word "mourning" came to the Russian language from the German "trauern", which means "mourn." Borrowing was adopted in the Petrine era at the same time as other terms that are now understood by every native speaker.
Consider what mourning is in the modern generally accepted sense. This is an outward expression of grief, sorrow associated with the death of a dear or close person. Reasons for mourning can be different:
- Death of a spouse, parent, child, other relative, or a person who cares.
- The departure from the life of a statesman, monarch, socially significant person, artist. In this case, not only his family members grieve, but also a lot of people, up to all residents of the state.
- A disaster (both natural and man-made) that caused numerous casualties. For example, a fire or plane crash, earthquake or flood.
On the day of mourning, the whole country mourns with the relatives of the victims, they do not show entertainment programs or films on television, respecting the grief of others.
Tradition and custom
Considering what mourning is, one should highlight the issue related to the traditions of different peoples, which are diverse. First of all, it is wearing black robes, which symbolizes the bitterness of loss. So, a woman widow does not have the right to remarry while she is in mourning, most often the period is at least one year. In addition, marriage is not possible in the event of the recent death of a father or brother.
Different nationalities have a variety of mourning rites. Let's get to know some of them:
- Physical injuries to oneself as a sign of grief. For example, the people of Australia made scars on their stomach and chest with hot coals.
- Cry. To make moaning convincing, professional mourners are even hired in some countries.
- Ritual self-immolation.
- Tearing clothes.
- Cutting strands of hair. Arab women tore their hair.
- Sprinkling wounds with the ashes of a burnt dead man.
All of these are options for mourning in different cultures. In Christianity, black clothes should be worn for 1-2 months, if the deceased was dearly loved, then a year is also possible. The main thing is that everything should come from the heart, not for the sake of observing some far-fetched traditions and rituals, only in this case the mourning will bring the desired reassurance.
Subtleties and nuances
We continue to analyze the meaning of the word "mourning". It is not only wearing dark clothes, sorrows and tears. It is also the bitterness of loss, the understanding that a loved one cannot be returned. People who observe it, as a rule, suffer very much, so their loved ones should make every effort not to aggravate the situation.
Note that the word can also be used in a figurative sense, often with a touch of humor. So, saying, “his nails are in mourning,” we mean black, dirty, sloppy and groomed plates.
What includes
Considering what mourning is, one should pay attention to the fact that this word also implies the fulfillment of certain canons (in addition to wearing black). Here they are:
- Refusal to attend entertainment events.
- Voluntary unwillingness to marry.
- Jewelry and jewelry are also not allowed.
- The use of perfume should be very moderate.
- At this time, it is unacceptable to constantly talk about your grief. Your loss. Everything should be experienced in the soul of the grieving.
During the tribulation it is permissible to wear not only black but also dark clothes, in this sense the canons are quite democratic, because not everyone has the opportunity to completely purchase the entire wardrobe in black. Therefore, dark blue, gray, purple outfits without flashy details are acceptable.
We examined what mourning is. This is grief over untimely departed people (even if death was due to a serious illness and was expected), as well as the outward expression of this grief, a set of rituals that must be observed not because it is “prescribed”, but in order to emphasize your respect for to the deceased.