Bereavement & Remembrance: Making Memories Visible
Grief is different for everyone, yet almost everywhere rituals and places help memories find a lasting home. That might be a grave in the cemetery, a corner of the living room or a spot in the garden. Memorial angels with inscriptions, lights or photo frames adorn the grave, while pet urns hold the ashes of a beloved pet. As a quiet gift for those who are grieving, an angel often says more than many words; further motifs can be found among the archangel figurines and Christian figurines.
All Saints' Day and the Sunday of the Dead
In November, remembering the dead has a firm place in the calendar. Catholic customs of remembrance centre on All Saints' Day on 1 November and All Souls' Day on 2 November; All Souls' Day is the actual day for remembering the departed, but in many places graves are already visited and decorated on All Saints' Day. In the Protestant church in German-speaking countries, the Sunday of the Dead (Totensonntag), also known as Eternity Sunday, on the last Sunday before the first Sunday of Advent, is the main day of remembrance. On these days grave candles are lit in many places; illuminated memorial angels with LED or solar lights offer an alternative to open flames. As grave decorations at this time of year head into winter, it is worth checking the weather information for each figurine.
Remembering a Pet
An animal that has been part of the family for years leaves a noticeable gap. Many pet owners say their pet has "crossed the Rainbow Bridge" – an image from a widely shared poem whose origin and author have never been clearly established. It describes a meadow just this side of heaven where pets wait for their owners. Whether the ashes stay at home or are laid to rest in the garden is a decision each family makes for itself; a small memorial angel can also adorn a pet's grave.
