Costumes for Christening, Marriage and Mourning

A selection of costumes were chosen from our collection to illustrate three important milestones; birth, marriage and death. Each of these ceremonies has its own customs and traditions, some aspects of which have remained the same throughout the centuries, whilst others have changed over time. The style, cut and fabric of clothing can tell us about these customs and how people conducted themselves through these landmark events.

Image courtesy of Beck Isle Museum, Pickering, North Yorkshire, UK