Honoring Our Loved Ones During the Holidays: Programs for Remembrance and Support
November 14, 2024
The holiday season is a traditional time of warmth, joy, and togetherness, but for those who have lost loved ones, it often brings decisively bittersweet memories. At Arlington, we understand that celebrating the season can feel woefully incomplete without honoring those who have passed away. That’s why we offer families a meaningful way to bring the spirit of Christmas to their loved ones’ resting places with an assortment of beautiful floral arrangements, wreaths, and small Christmas trees.
In her book, The Alphabet of Grief, author Andrea Raynor describes the loss of her father and the hole it left in her family’s life. “And yet,” Raynor writes, “somehow, the heightened awareness of his absence mysteriously invokes the comfort of his presence.”
Decorating a Gravesite
Finding the meaning in a loved one’s absence is a consoling gift. Similarly, decorating a loved one’s grave can be uniquely comforting, offering another way to keep their memory present during this special time of year. A personal touch, like a Christmas wreath or flowers, brings an element of familiarity and tradition, symbolizing the continued connection and love that transcend physical presence.
Decorating a gravesite also allows family members to create a peaceful moment of reflection during the busy holiday season. It’s an opportunity to honor cherished memories and experience a sense of closeness and peace amidst the season’s festive frenzy.
We provide a variety of seasonal decorations designed specifically for grave sites. You have the choice to choose beautiful poinsettias, carefully crafted Christmas wreaths, or decorative Christmas trees symbolizing the spirit of giving and renewal during this season. Each option is selected for durability and visual appeal, ensuring that it will bring seasonal beauty to the cemetery while withstanding winter conditions.
Purchasing your choice of decoration for your loved one’s grave is simple, and we offer convenient options for placing them:
:: Online and In-Person Ordering: Families can order directly through our website or visit our office to view available decorations in person. Online options allow for quick and convenient ordering and payment, and our team is always available to answer questions.
:: Placement Service: To make this process as stress-free as possible, we provide placement services for all decorations purchased through Arlington. This ensures your selection is securely placed and displayed with care at your loved one’s grave. You can order flowers directly from Arlington Memorial Gardens by submitting a purchase order form on our website.
We encourage families to place orders early in the season to ensure timely placement. We begin placing the decorations the day following Thanksgiving and our team will have all holiday decorations in place by early December.
Tips for Managing Holiday Grief:
While decorations often serve as a comforting ritual, the holidays can still be exhaustively challenging. Here are some resources that may those difficult times:
:: We provide compassionate grief support and information in our blog posts, tailored to address the unique challenges that arise during the holiday season. These posts offer comfort, guidance, and helpful tips while honoring the memory of loved ones.
:: We encourage families to attend our Christmas Remembrance Service on December 21. Learn more about our Christmas Remembrance Service.
Honoring a loved one’s memory during the holidays is a cherished way to continue feeling the comfort of their presence and at Arlington Memorial Gardens, we are here to support you in making this tradition both meaningful and comforting. Through thoughtfully selected decorations, dedicated placement services, and compassionate messages of support, we are committed to helping families find warmth, connection, and peace even when this joyful season presents severe challenges to feel joy. It is our privilege to stand beside you as you honor your loved ones with grace and love.
