Hi everybody!
I would like to know what a Chief Mourner is. I know it is somebody related to the funerals but I would like to know what he does in the funeral, what his work is. Is he a relative of the dead one, or an employee of the funerary?
I hope you can help me understand this concept.
Cheers!
The definition of a chief mourner can vary from culture to culture and age to age, but in general terms this would be the person closest to the deceased. There can be more than one chief mourner.
Traditionally the person considered to be the chief mourner would have been male – the eldest son or closest/oldest male relative. In many cultures, this is still the case, but in these more enlightened times in Western cultures the chief mourner is often female – the widow or eldest daughter.
The chief mourner should not be confused with the’ professional mourner’ or mute – in Victorian times, these were hired and used to walk behind the hearse. They adopted a suitable miserable expression and wore black. Funerals were elaborate affairs in those days and there was a strict etiquette regarding mourning.
Professional mourners went out of style as funerals became more relaxed and the use of motorised hearses increased.
Beeesneees,
Thank you for this very interesting explanation, indeed.
Now the concept of Chief Mourner is clear for me.
It is very good to learn something new every day.
Cheers!