Article from Colossal about Victorian-Era Mourning Traditions

This post is about a recent article from Colossal, an online art and visual culture magazine. In its December 6, 2025 newsletter, there was a short article highlighting a new video from the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum. That video includes multiple V&A curators unboxing a collection of 19th-century objects common in Victorian mourning traditions that include garments, ephemera and photos. These were part of elaborate rituals and rites that people once practiced to honor the dead. I'm aware this may seem a strange time of year to speak of death--at least in a way. But this video is really interesting.

The question raised by the old practices no longer observed is how do we, as a culture, practice grief and loss now? Colossal writes that "our contemporary culture of grief and loss has turned inward and is something managed privately rather than shared with a community." Does that ring true from your experience? Is there a tradition or rites that you follow? Is there a creative urge that presses to be expressed during such times?

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