Christmas is the perfect time to get together with family and friends. However, the festive season can also make the loss of a loved one more poignant and you may be searching for a way to ensure that they are remembered during this busy period.
With this in mind I have put together five wonderful ideas to help you honour your loved one over Christmas.
Make A Visit
Some people set aside a day to visit the gravesite of their loved one or head to an area that was special to them. This can be the place where their ashes were scattered if they were cremated or a place that they held close to their heart. Once there you may choose to lay their favourite flowers or a festive wreath to commemorate the season. A few people I have spoken to have even had a festive toast with their loved one or taken the time to simply talk and catch them up on what has been happening in their lives. The choice is entirely yours.
Incorporate Memories into Your Decorations
Another way you can remember your loved one is by purchasing or crafting a personalised decoration. This could be something to hang on your Christmas tree, a memorial wreath or you could even add photographs to your Christmas garland, so that you can gaze at it and remember the happy times you shared together. You could also consider hanging a Christmas stocking for them and placing a handwritten note inside. You can encourage your friends and family to do the same and read them out on Christmas Eve so you can re-live those wonderful memories.
Light A Memorial Candle
Memorial Candles are becoming an increasingly popular method of remembering your loved one. They can be easily purchased or made (if you are crafty) and placed alongside a photograph of your loved one until you are ready to light it in their memory and think about the great times you’ve had together.
Volunteering
If you are aware of an organisation that was close to your loved one’s heart, why not make some time and volunteer there. There are plenty of charities that need a little extra help around the Christmas period. If volunteering isn’t an option, why not consider participating in a one-off event in their memory, such as a sponsored walk in the new year or even hosting a bake off! You can even donate to the charity of your loved one’s choice in memory of them.
Make A Memory Jar
Another fantastic idea I’ve come across is setting up a memory jar at the beginning of December so that you can fill it with all the wonderful times you and other members of your family spent with your loved one. Leave the jar in a place that is convenient and let those snippets of paper build up over the month. On Christmas Day you can sit down with the rest of the family and read out all the wonderful things that you and the other important people in your life have written.
If you would like to discuss a celebration of life for your loved one, please don’t hesitate to call me on 0778 986 6589
