In memoriam is a Latin phrase equivalent to "in memory of," referring to remembering or honoring a deceased person. Every society has mourning traditions to memorialize those who have passed. Possibly the most well known were the traditions adopted by and expanded upon during the Victorian Era. Today, the most common of those traditions is the wearing of black to a funeral. Gone are the days of Victorian etiquette, when women were expected to dress in full mourning for up to four years.
It was traditional, especially for gentlemen, to wear a black armband on the left arm. Another tradition was mourning jewelry, generally worn by women, but there were pins in a variety of styles, worn also by men as a memorial for people they loved and lost.
Today the black armband is frequently seen worn by athletes after the passing of a team mate.
Another mourning observance practiced among first responders is the badge mourning band, worn at designated times, including funerals and certain days of memorial.
Another throwback to Victorian times is the mostly lost, language of the flowers. Flower pressing, especially when arranged symbolically, was a common hobby. As well as there were symbolic flowers of love and friendship, there were also flowers typically reserved for funerary floral arrangements.
Mourning Jewelry
Traditional Mourning Jewelry
Most mourning jewelry from the Victorian Era was manufactured from Jet and Black Onyx. They often contained a display disc, a locket or a pendant which contained some memento of the dearly departed. These Jet Pieces are all handmade by our studio and can be custom sized and designed with specific details.
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Mourning Bands
Honoring the Fallen
Mourning bands are traditionally worn on the arm to denote the passing of a loved one or colleague. The badge mourning band is worn by an array of first responders and service personnel, each with their own protocol.
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Mourning and Memorial Accessories
Daily Wear Memorial Accessories
These small pins may be worn with any outfit to honor your loved ones and keep their memory close at hand. Also makes a considerate gift for those who are grieving.
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Flower Presses
Pressing Funeral Flowers in Memorial
Many people use flower presses to preserve funeral flowers, then use the dried flora to create memorial art that gets framed and displayed in the home, or smaller works that may be housed in a clear Mourning Jewelry locket in order to keep their memory a bit closer.
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