Why can't you wear mourning clothes twice a year? Things to pay attention to during mourning

According to custom, if an elderly person in the family dies, the descendants are supposed to wear mourning clothes to send the deceased off. However, the number of times they should wear mourning clothes cannot exceed twice a year. So why can't they wear mourning clothes twice a year?

Why can't we wear mourning clothes twice a year?

People cannot wear mourning clothes twice a year because people believe that doing so will affect their fortunes. On the other hand, if your parents die first, you have to take on heavy mourning. If the second relative is your grandparents or relatives, you can take care of them again. If not, you cannot. Otherwise the previous mourning period will be over. There is still a full year between the two mourning periods to wear.

Two major mourning periods within a year refer to the death of both parents. You can wear mourning clothes according to your status, but generally speaking, you will wear sackcloth or other mourning clothes. The ancients were very particular about filial piety. Mourning clothes were divided into five levels from heavy to light: zuisui (cuī), qisui (zī), dagong (dagong), xiaogong (xiaogong), and sī (sī), which were called the five mourning clothes. Heavy mourning is the heaviest mourning attire, which is applicable to children mourning their fathers. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was stipulated that sons should also wear mourning clothes for their mothers, and if there were two major mourning occasions in a year, they had to wear mourning clothes according to etiquette.

Things to note during mourning

1. Men don’t shave their heads, women don’t wear makeup, don’t take a bath, and don’t go out;

2. During the mourning period, you cannot participate in entertainment activities or hold wedding or birthday ceremonies;

3. According to traditional customs, the body is not clean during the period of mourning, and offering sacrifices to the gods during this period is not clean, so one cannot enter or leave the temple;

4. Do not visit relatives and friends during the funeral period to show respect for others.

5. It is recommended not to attend weddings, funerals or other celebrations of relatives and friends within 100 days.

6. Stay away from entertainment venues and do not participate in entertainment activities to express your remembrance of your ancestors.