Continuing Holiday Traditions That You Shared With Someone You’ve Lost

The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s time to continue our beloved holiday traditions that have been passed on to us by our loved ones.

If you’ve lost someone close to you, the holidays can prove to be a difficult time. There are likely traditions and memories you’ve experienced with your lost loved one, and the holidays sometimes serve as a reminder of those wonderful times.

No matter what holidays you celebrate, the traditions you’ve enjoyed while you prepare for and celebrate this wonderful time with your loved ones will stay with you throughout the rest of your life.

This holiday season, we encourage you to continue those traditions in memory of your lost loved one. This may be easier said than done but looking at those holiday memories fondly and continuing the tradition in your loved one’s name is a wonderful way to keep their spirit alive as you celebrate this special time.

Your lost loved one remains at your holiday festivities in spirit and in your heart, and there are many ways to carry on the traditions that you’ve shared with them.

Here are a few we recommend:

1. Christmas tree ornaments

If you had a fond memory decorating or picking out a Christmas tree with your lost loved one, consider finding an ornament to add to your tree this year in memory of them. Your ornament can be a photo of the two of you, of them, or a beautiful ornament that reminds you of them. Either way, you will remember those wonderful times with your loved one as you prepare for Christmas this year and every year in the future.

2. Using family recipes

This holiday season, consider baking or cooking a dish your lost loved one used to make. It could be their special cookies, a delicious green bean casserole, extra special mashed potatoes, you name it. Find their original recipe, ask your loved ones to help you if you’d like, and contribute to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner this year with this beloved, passed-down dish.

3. Playing their favorite songs

Christmas music is a large part of the holidays, and everyone has their favorite songs of the season. Be sure to play your lost loved one’s favorite holiday tunes as you prepare for the holidays and even on the day that you celebrate.

4. Talking about their life

One of the best ways to keep traditions and memories with your lost loved one alive during the holidays is to talk about them with your family members and friends. If you share a love for this person, they will want to talk about them and keep their memory alive, too. This can be a quiet moment over dinner, a laugh sitting by the tree, or even going around the table at dinner.