<P> All over the world, states usually declare a period of' official mourning' after the death of a Head of State . The signs may vary but usually include the lowering or posting half - mast of flags on public buildings . (In contrast, the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is not flown at half - mast, because there is always a monarch on the throne .) </P> <P> In January 2006, on the death of Jaber Al - Ahmad Al - Jaber Al - Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, a mourning period of 40 days was declared . In Tonga, the official mourning lasts for a year; only afterwards is the royal heir crowned the new king . </P> <P> On the other hand, the principle of continuity of the State must be respected . The principle is reflected in the French saying "Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!" (The king is dead, long live the king!). Regardless of the formalities of mourning, power must be handed on; if the succession is uncontested, that is best done immediately . Yet, a short interruption of work in the civil service may result from one or more days of closing the offices, especially on the day of the State funeral . </P> <P> There are five grades of mourning obligations in the Confucian Code . A man is expected to honor most of those descended from his great - great - grandfather, and most of their wives . One's father (and mother) would merit 27 months . One's grandfather on the male side, as well as one's wife, would be grade two, or twelve months of austerities . A paternal uncle is grade three at nine months . Grade four is reserved for one's father's first cousin, maternal grandparents, siblings and sister's children (five months). First cousins once removed, second cousins and a man's wife's parents were to get grade five (three months). </P>

Where did the tradition of wearing black at funerals come from