Symbols of mourning are useful tools to help us through difficult times. Loss is part of life, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do our best to make the loss easier.
Whether it be embracing the mourning period or finding the positive things in life, symbols of mourning can make a difference. But before you can learn how to mourn, you must learn more about the definition of mourning.
What Is Mourning?
Mourning is an experience that is the result of a loss in life. It is almost always caused by the death of a loved one.
Those in mourning will express themselves and how they feel about what has happened. They will often go through the five stages of grief.
- Denial – the shock phase when reality does not feel real
- Anger – internal outrage or external outbursts
- Bargaining – negotiating with others, yourself, or a higher power to earn something back
- Depression – sadness and distress that can last for a few days or even years (this is not always easy to spot if the person tries to hide it)
- Acceptance – the most important stage when you move on from the trauma without forgetting your loss
Difference Between Grief And Mourning
- Grief describes the direct feelings and thoughts we have internally after a loss
- Mourning describes our outward expressions after a loss
- People mourn by talking, creating, and crying
- Everyone grieves when a loved one dies
- Not everyone mourns
- Mourning is a healthy way to work through a loss
- Not all cultures or societies are accepting of people mourning
- If you are grieving, it’s important also to allow yourself to mourn
- You can mourn by seeking out people who will not judge you for doing so
Which Color Symbolizes Mourning?
Black is the color of mourning. It is tradition to wear black to funerals. But not long ago, people wore black every day for up to five years after a loved one’s death.
This began in Ancient Rome when mourners wanted the world to know that they were thinking of their loved ones and that they took their death seriously.
Women in the Victorian era (both before and after as well) were expected to wear black for at least a year after their husbands died. If they did not, they were not respected in the community.
As time went on, the expected time dwindled to under a year and included both sexes until, eventually, the tradition was limited to funerals.
Flowers That Symbolize Mourning
- Poppy – common flower to remember the fallen from the world wars as they grew naturally on the battle scenes during this time
- Hyacinth – a symbol of sorrow used to help people grieve and mourn
- Chrysthaneum – in China, people once believed that these flowers could give life, so they were used in graveyards and funerals
- Lily – in ancient times, the lily had ties to death and is now a common funeral flower
What Does The Bible Say About Mourning?
The Bible has helped many mourn in a healthy way. In Pslam 24:18, God looks out for the spiritual welfare of the living with, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 encourages us to use the comfort we receive from the lord to comfort others going through the same thing, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Many more times in the Bible, those who are mourning receive blessings. But nothing is as simple and straightforward as the beatitude in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Animal Mourning Symbols
- Vulture – these birds are known for circling those near death and cleaning up carcasses
- Raven – an intelligent bird with the symbolism of death, mourning, and in certain cases, evil
- Black Cat – sometimes bad luck and sometimes used to comfort those who are ill or in mourning
- Ram – connected to the occult, death, and mourning
Tree That Symbolizes Mourning
The cypress tree symbolizes mourning. These trees often grow in the cemetery where they were planted by accident.
They grow tall, reaching towards the heavens, yet their roots do not disturb the caskets resting beneath the surface. The cypress tree grows in graveyards on every continent except Antarctica.
15 Symbols of Mourning
A small black veil is a common symbol of mourning. It adds an air of solemnity that many yearn for when in mourning to help them express their grief.
2. Half-Mast Flag
Flags at half-mast are used to honor someone who has died. It is often used for someone of importance who made a difference in the world or in the community.
The tombstone is a practical symbol of mourning. They are placed as grave markers, picked out by the loved ones of the dead to honor their life and to have a place to connect with them.
Rainbows are used to symbolize the loss of a child. This can be in the womb or as a baby, which is why the children born after the loss of one baby are called rainbow babies. The organization Rainbows is also a place that helps children grieve.
Wreaths have many meanings, including mourning. They are a reminder that even though someone is not on earth any longer, they have left a legacy that will continue to grow. That’s why these wreaths are often placed on caskets.
Urns are symbols of mourning because they keep the ashes of a loved one. They have been used as a symbol of mourning since ancient Greece.
Clocks are symbols of mourning, just like hourglasses. They both represent the passing of time, how it heals all wounds, and how respects can be paid by stopping clocks at the time of death.
Crosses represent the death and rebirth of Christ. This is a good reminder that life is eternal in the Christian faith and that we will see loved ones again.
Candles represent mourning. They are used at funerals and other death rituals to bring people together and welcome deceased loved ones to visit the living.
10. Face in Hands
Hands holding a face is a symbol of comfort and mourning. It is a good example of a healthy way to express feelings and how we can comfort ourselves and others with a human connection.
11. Tears (with bottles)
Tears are healthy signs of mourning. They are often used with containers to symbolize the fact that every tear is caught by a higher power and remembered by loved ones who are mourning with us.
Clouds are symbols of mourning. They remind us that there is life out there, even after death. Some cultures put a lot of stock into the visible heavens and how it connects us to another realm of the dead.
Skulls can represent both death and mourning. In Hamlet, a skull was held as a symbol of death and a reminder that life is short, so we should make the most of it.
Funeral potatoes are a common dish, primarily in America. They are filling and crowd-pleasing, giving people in mourning something to eat whenever they don’t feel like eating.
Scythes are known for being used by Death. They were once used to bury loved ones and are now a symbol used to keep the memories of loved ones alive.