The Era that the Winchester Widows represent, 1860-
1900, was a hard life for women on the frontier. There
was the Civil War, there were farming accidents, Indian raids, property disputes, disease, traveling hardships.
Many women found themselves losing those who they held
most dear, be it a brother, sister, child or her husband.

The custom of wearing black to show the loss of a loved
one dates back to the Romans and was believed to ward
off evil spirits, but it was made fashionable in 1861 when Queen Victoria lost her beloved Prince
Albert. Setting a trend, she donned her "widow's weeds" and she remained in mourning for the next 40 years.

Rules for mourning became the norm of society and black
was soon seen everywhere. For women during the Victorian period, mourning attire included every conceivable article of clothing as well as hair accessories, stationery, umbrellas, fans, and purses. Widows were expected to mourn for two years and were allowed to wear grey and lavender only in the last six months of 'half-mourning'. This fashion trend swiftly moved from the green banks of Europe to the dry frontier west of the Mississippi.

So why would this organization take on such a strange tradition and turn it into a parade group? Good question!It is mainly to demonstrate that although women of the west were single and followed traditions, they very often "bucked the norm" and learned to fend for themselves. Defending themselves and hunting food was a top priority and by carrying the Winchester rifle, a woman could learn to get by in a land as rugged as the American frontier. That is the flavor that this club tries to imitate as we ride parades proudly wearing black.

A good site to visit regarding the origins of mourning
is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning

and some interesting sites on Victorian mourning are:

www.victoriaspast.com/FrontPorch/queenvictoria.htm
www.morbidoutlook.com/fashion/historical/2001_03
_victorianmourn.html
www.victoriana.com/library/harpers/funeral.html