Veils

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Purple_Junebug

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Recently I have gotten really interested in wearing veils to church. I asked for a veil for Christmas and mom and dad got me a black one…I don’t mean to sound ungrateful because it really is pretty but…doesn’t that mean I am going to a funeral? Do the different colors of veils mean different things? If so, what do they mean? I do love this veil but I don’t want to wear a sad veil to a happy occasion like during the Christmas season.
 
Any specific ‘cultural’ connotions would only pertain to that culture and time. Currently I do not believe there is any association with black as being for funerals. Heck, priests don’t even wear black vestments for funerals in many if not most parishes today.

In some cultures black color (not just the veil but dresses, shoes, etc.) was thought of as a ‘married women’ color, and white (with the ‘purity’ undertone) for the unmarried, young girls and children. . .but then again, in other cultures like China white is considered a funeral color and RED is the normal ‘lucky’ color.

And of course, unless you have pale blonde hair, you probably would not look as good in a ‘white’ veil. (and it can be hard to find white bobby pins to secure that veil, and nothing looks tackier IMHO than a white veil held on in 5 or 6 places by black bobby pins!)

Enjoy the veil and don’t worry. Anybody who would approach you asking if you ‘knew’ that black is only for ‘funerals’ can be directed here to CA where they will find plenty of people to set them straight about veiling, colors, cultural changes, etc.
 
This website shows veils of both colors and styles for different ages.
catholicchurchsupply.com/church-supplies/Chapel-Veils-and-Mantillas/category/1187/sort/popular/currentpage/1

Chapel veils – lace veils, commonly black or white, which can vary in size and shape – are worn by women when entering a church, or anytime in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Traditionally, married and widowed women wear black veils, while young girls and unmarried women wear white or off-white veils. However, the color choices are not a hard and fast rule.
Taken from this link aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/The-Chapel-Veil/article/245

Here is a forum discussion on veils
catholicforum.com/forums/showthread.php?32484-significance-of-veil-colors

Veiling Options for Women and Girls
There are various options here for women:

the classic Catholic lace mantillas
lace chapel caps (this is for young girls)
oblong gauzy or cotton scarves worn over the head and over one or both shoulders, or tied in various ways (see this page for information on various ways of tying scarf-type headcoverings (offsite, will open in new browser window)
standard-sized square chiffon or cotton scarves folded into a triangle and worn tied under the chin in the Jackie-O style or tied behind the head in the peasant style, etc.
large square scarves worn “babushka” style (fold large 36" square scarf into a triangle and place over head with the “tail” side hanging down in back. Then turn back the pointy ends behind the head and tie into a bow or make a knot over the “tail”)
shawls worn over the head
elegant but simple hats (cloches, toques, berets, “Lady Diana” hats, etc.)
Traditionally, single women wear white or ivory headcoverings, and married or widowed women wear black, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule, and is often ignored.
Taken from this link fisheaters.com/theveil.html

May the Lord bless you on what ever you decide to wear, your heart is in the right place.
 
I agree with the previous posters. Where I live the schoolgirls always wear white mantillas to the school Mass. It is a common practice for girls and unmarried women to wear white.

I am unmarried and of a certain age and normally wear black as do most of the married women and such like.

This is echoed by the Dominican nuns here, where a white veil is worn until final profession and the nun takes a black veil.

The colours of the rainbow are also worn by young and old with head scarves, hats etc. Littlies wear bonnets and on occasion a hanky.

The mantilla is commonly just in black or white, but I have a beautiful Spanish one that is black and gold.

On the occasion of attending a funeral where black vestments are worn it is the practice to wear black or sober colours

The Maori people wear black and it is very evident at funerals not Catholic here. It is a tradition dating back to the Victorian era.
 
Well, a white veil would be a handy way to spot a potential wife and a black one would ward a fella off.
 
All the posters are correct - the colors are just cultural, and nobody can really keep it straight.

Oh, there is one rule. If you meet the Holy Father, you only wear white if you’re the queen of a Catholic nation. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to meet him? And you’d be set, with your black mantilla. Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Jackie Kennedy, among others, wore black mantillas to meet the Holy Father, and that was definitely not a sad occasion for them. Other than meeting the Holy Father, though, you’re set wearing whatever colors you’d like!

I just wanted to tell you that I think it’s wonderful that you’re interested in veiling and that your parents are supportive. Good for you! I hope you find it as lovely, peaceful, and humbling a practice as I do.
 
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