As the holidays are often built around bringing loved ones together, they can amplify a family member’s or friend’s absence from the dinner table. Although you’ll likely feel immense pain that they cannot be there with you, there’s still room for joy during the festive season.
Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas, there are many meaningful ways to keep their memory alive and feel as though they’re part of the occasion. Here are some ways to honor a loved one’s memory during the holidays.
Continue with a Late Loved One’s Traditions
The thought of not tasting your loved one’s signature dish on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day might fill you with sadness. If so, why not try to recreate it for yourself and your family this year? Continuing their holiday traditions is a great way to keep their memory alive and make it feel as though they’re right there with you.
So, play their favorite festive songs, watch a movie they loved, or maintain an annual ritual, which might include decorating the tree early or going for a walk on Christmas Eve. It could make the holidays feel a little easier.
Plant a Tree in Their Honor
The holidays are a great time to create new rituals to honor a loved one’s life. For example, some families embrace memorial tree planting in a national forest, which helps them remember a family member or friend while restoring land affected by disease, wildfires, and other damage.
It allows a loved one’s memory to live on in a positive way, as the trees help restore a forest and could grow for generations. It could become a comforting annual ritual, as their memory will make a meaningful difference in the country they loved.
Arrange an Annual Memorial Walk
Not everyone wants to talk about grief over dinner, especially during the holidays. For this reason, it might be helpful to everyone to take part in an annual memorial walk for a late family member or friend.
It will give you and your nearest and dearest a chance to remember a loved one in a beautiful green space. You could even visit their favorite spot to feel as though they’re walking beside you and your family.
Set a Place at the Table for a Late Loved One
Setting a place at the table is a touching way to pay tribute to a loved one during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas Day dinner. The empty chair will serve as a physical reminder of your loved one, making it feel like they’re part of every funny moment or interesting story shared at the dinner table.
If you feel it may help, place their photo at the table setting, pour their preferred drink, and raise a glass in their honor. The little things could make their presence felt, making the holidays more enjoyable and comforting for you and your family.
There is no correct way to remember a loved one. Think carefully about the acts or traditions that may help you feel closer to them, whether that’s hanging a Christmas ornament in their honor, sharing festive stories, or playing their favorite board game.
