Traditions of Death- Covered Mirrors

The Victorians had a number of superstitions and rituals around the death of a loved one. In a world where necromancers can raise the dead, magnetists can talk to the departed, and magicians can see ghosts, these taboos and procedures are doubly interesting. Here is a ghoulish tradition followed by a macabre scenario seed.

Superstitions about mirrors are abundant. Commonly, a mirror is believed to be a reflection of a viewer’s soul (which is why vampires don’t have a reflection), so care must be taken with mirrors after a body’s soul is gone.
In the homes of mourning Victorian families, every mirror in the house was covered with crepe (a non- reflective fabric often used in mourning dress). The mirrors were covered for fear the departed’s soul would get trapped in them. It’s hard to say how many Victorian’s believed this superstition and how many were following a custom. With the growth of spiritualism, this superstition could have had many believing adherents.
More overtly sinister is the belief that the falling and breaking of a mirror with no cause foretells the death of someone in the house. The two may be connected.

Moaning Mirrors
Shank and Sons Undertakers is a well respected funeral parlor. J. Shank’s duties to the bereaved are performed in a dignified manner. His sons are clean and helpful. It’s surprising their services come at such low cost. They must make up the difference somewhere.
 There is one oddity to their funerals: Shank’s sons carry large mirrors into the home and mount them in wooden frames near the departed. J. Shank explains this away when asked. The mirrors encourage the introspection appropriate for mourning and help the bereaved find peace in the presence of their fellow mourners wherever they look.
The mirrors are always installed the day before the wake. Some have complained of a low pitched hum that seems to come from the mirror. Tapping on the mirror (when a Shank is not looking) makes the hum louder and more organic. Like a moan.