Families gathering for the holidays might have fewer guests this year than in the past. With Christmas just around the corner, a few holiday memorial ideas can be used to incorporate the memory of a departed loved one into the festivities and make your Walterboro, SC home a little bit brighter. Consider these simple yet meaningful traditions for how to honor loved ones during the holidays.
Stocking filled with memories
Leave room on the fireplace mantle for a stocking that commemorates the life of a deceased family member. Stockings hung in honor of loved ones signify that people who have passed away are still here in spirit. To keep the memory of loved ones alive, fill the stocking with mementos like family pictures and handwritten letters to those who are no longer with us. When someone passes away, there’s no greater gift than remembrance.
Ribbons in their favorite colors
Decorating the house with ribbons is a simple holiday memorial idea to engage young children. Ribbons are easy to decorate with and make a wonderful family tradition you can pass on to future generations. Choose ribbons in your loved one’s favorite colors and hang them where family members gather the most. One popular choice among homeowners in Walterboro, SC is to wrap ribbons around the trunk of their Christmas tree. You can incorporate ribbons in the entire house by weaving them through handrails or a wreath on the front door.
Reserve a spot at the table
Some traditions will always be the same, even when family members are no longer with us. To honor loved ones during the holidays, leave a vacant table setting in their memory. Just because someone passes away doesn’t mean there has to be one less chair this year. An empty chair at the dinner table helps families remember the loved one who once filled it with their presence. Families who lost relatives know that in the midst of holiday cheer, the silent absence of a loved one speaks volumes.
Give sentimental belongings as presents
One of the hardest parts of losing a loved one is clearing the house of their possessions. However, not everything has to go. Another great holiday memorial idea involves giving sentimental items to family members. Belongings your loved one cherished the most can stay in the family and get passed down to future generations. Store-bought Christmas presents are nice, but receiving the valued possessions of a loved one is priceless.
Watch home movies of your loved ones
If you’re looking to honor loved ones during the holidays, gather everyone in the living room and watch old home movies. A death in the family can make holidays a somber occasion because relatives who used to join in the merriment are no longer here. Lift everyone’s spirits by reminiscing about happy memories and the good times that were captured on film.
The best holiday presents honor the memory of a loved one. This year, give your family a memorial piece from Steedley Monument Works that’s sure to last forever. We combine generations of experience to create beautiful pieces made from polished granite engraved with photos and the names of loved ones. Visit our location in Walterboro, SC and share your family’s legacy with us.