The word ‘funeral’ is believed to have first been used by Geoffrey Chaucer, who is often considered the father of the English language. It appeared in writing in his Middle English work The Knight’s Tale, in which he refers to a ‘funeral servyse’ after a character passes away. It was published in 1386, making it the first written use of the word funeral that we know of (source: HL Marks Memorial).
Why Funeral Wear Black
It is a long-standing tradition that funeral attendees wear black to show respect for the deceased. But why is black the go-to color for funerals? While the color black has many different meanings, it is often associated with death, mourning, and grief. Wearing black to a funeral is a way to show respect for the person who has died and to express your own sadness and condolences to their loved ones.
black is also a color of strength and resilience. In the face of death, black can be a reminder that life goes on and that we must all eventually face our own mortality.
So, while there is no one right answer to the question of why funeral attendees wear black, it is clear that this tradition has a long history and deep meaning. Whether you choose to wear black to show respect, express your grief, or remember your own mortality, doing so can be a powerful way to honor the life of the person who has died.
Why Funeral Wear White
It is a widely held belief that white is the traditional color of mourning. While the color black has come to be associated with death and grief in Western cultures, white has been the color of mourning for centuries in many cultures around the world.
In ancient Egypt, white was the color of purity and innocence. It was also the color of mourning, as it symbolized the purity of the soul that had passed on to the afterlife.
In ancient Greece, white was the color of mourning as well. It was believed that the soul of the deceased was purified by the white light of the sun, and that the body should be clothed in white to reflect this purity.
In China, white is the color of death and grief. White is also the color of purity and innocence, and it is believed that the soul of the deceased is purified by the white light of the moon.
In many cultures, white is seen as a color of hope and renewal. In the Western world, white is often associated with weddings and christenings, as it symbolizes new beginnings.
While the color black has come to be associated with death and grief in Western cultures, white has a long history of being associated with mourning in many cultures around the world.