Burial and Mourning Customs

In attempting to trace the origins of some of the symbolical customs connected with burial and mourning amongst the Semites, we find ourselves confronted with great difficulty. It has been suggested that there may be some physical reasons to account for many mourning customs. Thus, tearing one's garment would palliate nervous irritation, beating the breast would relieve the heart oppressed with a tumultuous circulation, crying aloud would divert the attention from anguish of body or mind; whilst shaving the head would help to relieve the excited brain. Again, it has been suggested that many mourning customs have arisen from a desire on the part of the mourners not only to avoid their usual practices in daily life, but to do the very reverse. Thus many savages who usually paint themselves refrain from doing so when in mourning. ¹ Amongst certain West African tribes which are very fond of overdressing, it is found that when a death occurs the men divest themselves of all clothing and the women wear as few as possible. ² Also amongst the modern Egyptians it is customary when the master of the house or the owner of the furniture is dead to turn upside-down the carpets, mats, cushions, and coverings of the divans.