December 13, 2016

Three Creative Ways to Remember Loved Ones at the Holidays

Recent or not, the loss of a loved one may feel more pronounced during the holiday season. Many counseling clients and workshop participants find that creating tangible mementos of their loved ones is an easy, yet meaningful way to honor their memory, especially at the holidays. Here are just three creative ways to include your special person in holiday traditions.

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Framed Christmas sweater

1. Shadowboxes

When you walk into Elizabeth Pearson’s home during the holidays, the first thing you’ll see is this lovely shadow box hanging in their entry. The frame holds a treasured keepsake—the left panel of her mother’s favorite Christmas sweater.

Did your loved one have cherished holiday decorations or keepsakes? Following Pearson’s example, consider arranging them in a shadowbox and displaying it in your home. Or perhaps you have a favorite photo of your loved one from the holidays, one you can frame and display seasonally.

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Remembrance luminaries

2. Luminaries

At Kids Path’s annual “Hope at the Holidays” workshop, families with children create luminaries in memory of loved ones. If you couldn’t make it to this year’s workshop, this is a great project to work on together at home.

Buy a set of luminary bags, tea candles and craft supplies, and invite children to decorate their luminaries with words, colors and pictures that remind them of their loved one. Help them with their creations, and talk about their choices. When finished, turn off the lights or go outside, and light your luminaries while saying a few words of reflection, a poem or prayer.

3. Honor Cards

If you don’t have the time or energy to create a project this season, you may consider donating to a worthy cause in your loved one’s memory. Helping others in your loved one’s name can be therapeutic for you and invaluable to local charities. Light Up A Life is one program that allows you to celebrate someone special while providing care and support to patients and clients of Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro. Learn more here.

There are many creative ways to keep your loved one’s memory alive during the holidays. Do you have your own? Share with others in the comments on Facebook or retweet on Twitter with your idea.