Christmas Decorations Ideas For Loved Ones In Heaven
Christmas is a time for family, friends and festivities. It’s also a time when many people feel the pain of losing a loved one especially keenly. For those who are heading into their first Christmas season without their loved ones, it can be difficult to know how to cope. But with a bit of creativity, you can make this year’s Christmas celebrations special and meaningful, even without your loved one there physically.
Creating bespoke memorial Christmas decorations is a beautiful way to remember a loved one and to make the festive season easier to manage. In this guide, we'll explore some of the most popular memorial ornaments and decorations you can find for the Christmas season.
Different types of memorial decorations
There are all sorts of memorial decorations available to buy or make yourself. Some popular choices include:
- Baubles and tree decorations
- Candles and lanterns
- Wall art and plaques
- Garden memorials and benches
When choosing your Christmas memorial decoration, think about where you would like to place it and how it will help you during the festive period. Some people like an indoor memorial as they will see it more often, while others prefer an outdoor memorial as it encourages them to get outside and into nature.
Here are some beautiful ideas for how to add memorial decorations to your Christmas celebrations.
Baubles and tree decorations
One of the most popular ways to remember a loved one at Christmas is with a bauble or other tree decoration. This is a lovely way to keep your loved one close at Christmas, and it can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.
You could also choose a glass Christmas ornament that has the cremation ashes of your loved one folded into the molten material. Some people like to write messages or the name of their loved one on the bauble, while others prefer to decorate it with symbols that were significant to them. If you’re crafty, you could even make your own bauble out of clay or paper.
Candles and lanterns
Another beautiful way to remember your loved one at Christmas is with a candle or lantern. You could choose a simple tealight holder or go for something more elaborate, like a lantern with their photo inside. You could also make your own memorial candle using essential oils that remind you of your loved one. Smell is incredibly powerful and will help to evoke strong memories.
Lanterns and candles are popular during the winter season as they can be incredibly cosy and comforting. You could also place one near the dining table on Christmas day to commemorate those who cannot be there.
Wall art and plaques
For a more permanent memorial, you could hang a plaque or piece of wall art in your home. This could be something as simple as a wooden sign with their name, dates and a short message.
Or you could choose something more personalised, like a print with their photo and favourite quote. Wall art is a beautiful way to keep your loved one’s memory alive all year round, but it will bring special comfort and support during the festive season.
Garden memorials and benches
If you’re looking for an outdoor memorial, a garden bench or stone plaque is a lovely choice. This could be placed in your own garden or in a public park. It’s a beautiful way to create a space where you can sit and reflect on happy memories.
It’s also helpful during the winter months as you might need to find an excuse to get outdoors. Being outdoors, exercising and enjoying nature are all excellent ways to deal with the low moods that are associated with grief. So by choosing a memorial of this nature, you can also help to safeguard your mental health.
Buy or make your own?
If you have children, it can be an enjoyable task to create memorial Christmas ornaments for your home. Getting crafty is certainly good for your mental health as it will encourage you to reach a "flow state". This is when you become so engrossed in an activity that time seems to disappear.
It’s a great way to take your mind off things and connect with your loved one in a meaningful way. If crafting isn’t your thing, there are plenty of ready-made memorial decorations available to buy online or in stores. You can also have them customised with engravings or cremation ashes to make them more unique.
No matter how you choose to remember your loved one, the most important thing is that it brings you comfort. Christmas can be a difficult time for those who are grieving, but by creating special memorials, you can keep your loved one close to your heart. These memorials can be brought out every year to help individuals manage their grief.