Grief at Christmas – Memory Tree

This year for Christmas, Viner and Sons, and our sister company Viners On The Hill will have a memory tree on display in our office and shop. These trees are for you. If you have lost a loved one and would like to post a message to them this year or would simply like to add their name to our tree just pop in. We have blank hanging decorations for you to write out and hang on our tree.

Whether it is your first Christmas after a bereavement or not, Christmas can be a very difficult time of year. It is never easy to be celebrating with family and friends when there is someone important missing. One of the most important things to remember is that everyone has their own ways of dealing with grief.

Some people may decide that they do not wish to celebrate Christmas at all, you need to acknowledge these feelings and be sympathetic. Some tips to help you cope could be

1. Accept that Christmas will be different.
2. Know that it is ok to feel sad.
3. Talk about your loved one.
4. Create a new Christmas tradition in memory of your loved one.
5. Plan for where you will be spending Christmas.
6. Light a Christmas candle in their memory.
7. Make their favourite dish for Christmas dinner.
8. Make a donation to their favourite charity as a Christmas gift.
9. Don’t feel guilty about not wanting to celebrate.
10. Create a photo table, photos of the person you have lost celebrating past Christmas’s
11. Ask for help if the thought of cooking is too stressful.
12. This year has probably been particularly bad due to the pandemic – make sure you keep in contact with family and friends.
13. Treat yourself – What would your loved one have brought you for Christmas.
14. Support younger members of the family and do a grief craft activity together.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. All the staff within our organisation are happy to help you. Whether you just want to pop in and have a hot drink and a socially distance chat or if you want us to point you in the right direction for professional help, we are here for you.