Holiday Season Rituals to Remember a Loved One

The following article offers ideas for creating rituals to honour a loved one’s memory, providing meaningful and positive actions you can take for yourself and your whānau.

Create a shrine in your home for the holidays

If you have an urn containing your loved one’s ashes or simply want a special place to keep photos and mementos at home, you might like to create a shrine for Christmas. This can serve as a meaningful place for family visiting during the holidays. They might light candles or incense, add a favourite photo or even leave a treat your loved one enjoyed. In some cultures, having a srine with photos of ancestors is a common way to honour their memory and keep their presence alive.

Create a sporting legacy in your local community

If your loved one had a passion for a sport, hobby or community club, commemorate their memory by donating a trophy, prize or equipment in their honour. Supporting their favourite team or club is another great way to honour a loved one.

You could even talk to their local sporting club about planning a tribute game or an annual tournament in their name. This event could be a serious competition or a fun-filled occasion with creative props, costumes, and quirky rules that reflect your loved one’s unique character and spirit. Such initiatives celebrate their love for the game while bringing joy and connection to the community.

Incorporate new rituals into Christmas celebrations

Hosting a holiday gathering can be an opportunity to honour your loved one by weaving their memory into your Christmas traditions. You might include meaningful gestures such as:

• Serving their favourite food and drink
• Wearing their favourite colour
• Meeting at a place they loved

If your family is spread across different parts of the world, consider uniting in shared rituals – you could all cook the same special recipe, watch their favourite movie, or light a candle at the same time before connecting online for a family catch-up. These simple yet heartfelt actions keep their memory alive and bring a sense of togetherness, no matter the distance.

Volunteer or donate as a family

Giving back to a cause that was close to your loved one’s heart is a powerful way to honour their memory. Consider volunteering as a family for a charity they supported or organising an annual fundraising event in their name. Many organisations offer ideas for fundraising events, such as Pink Ribbon Breakfasts, or organise annual events like street collections to support their mission. Here are a few meaningful ways to give back during the holiday season:

• Christmas Box: Help Kiwi families celebrate Christmas by providing essential items for festive celebrations
• Kindness Collective: Donate new, unwrapped toys to any participating Mitre 10 collection bin before 12th December to have them distributed to local kids in need in each community that needs them most.