Posts Tagged ‘Funeral ceremony’
New Alternative Ways of Saying Goodbye
In the same way that wedding couples are increasingly looking to find more personal ways of tying the knot, families in the UK are also beginning to seek out alternative options for funerals. Handy resources such as ‘The Good Funeral Guide’ are helping people to better understand the choices they have available to them. Equipped with fresh knowledge, and a feeling of empowerment, people are beginning to realise that they can have the funeral they want, and in-fact, that they themselves can take on the role of ‘funeral director’. There is no law that requires us in the UK to use an undertaker, nor is there any legal obligation to hold a funeral. We have become accustomed, over many generations,…
Read MoreWhat happens at a funeral? A realistic account of what to expect
We don’t talk about death so it has become unfamiliar Funeral ceremonies can serve different purposes for those involved. One function of a ceremony is to contain (accept and help to manage) distress and insecurity, and to signal a change. But, who is the funeral for? The departed or those in mourning? Difficulties can be created when this becomes and either/or choice. In fact, funerals are for both the dead and for the living. Compromise can be key. If funerals are for the living as well as for the dead, what happens for the friends and family of the deceased at a funeral? In describing funerals, it is easy to airbrush out or to gloss over some of the difficulties that…
Read MoreWhat does a Funeral Celebrant do?
So what exactly does a Funeral Celebrant do? One Independent Celebrant gives a brief overview of what a Funeral Celebrant does and why they are such a valuable asset for families when facing what is undoubtedly the most difficult challenge anyone has to undertake; arrange a funeral. How do Families and Funeral Celebrants Connect? A lot of Celebrants will be introduced to families by the Funeral Director. What is not so well known however, is families do not have to take the person recommended to them by the Funeral Director, they can choose whoever they feel will be most sympathetic to their wishes. At the end of the day; when a couple are planning their wedding, they will decide who…
Read MoreWhat is grief in children?
Part one of What is grief? shared a very personal account of grief. In the second of our three part series investigating grief, one very experienced Celebrant looks at how children handle bereavement and explains how to be age appropriate when helping a grieving child. Golden rule of grief: be guided by the child Children differ in their capacity to understand grief depending on their age and maturity. Babies and small children lack the words for their grief but still feel it. Toddlers and the under 5s will take time to form a consistent understanding of death. This means that they may swing back and forth between understanding and not understanding. Be prepared for this, and to answer the same…
Read MoreFive unique ideas for an autumn funeral
Autumn is a time of rebirth and reconnection. For many of us, the falling leaves and the transformation of colours are a soothing and welcome entry into the colder months. However, when faced with an autumn funeral, we can quickly forget all about these beautiful, tranquil features. Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration for funeral services. In this blog, Celebrant Rosalie shares her top five ideas to personalise an autumn funeral. Personalising a funeral can be a cathartic way to say goodbye to a loved one in a unique and meaningful way. There are many things we can take advantage from within the changing seasons to add to this gentle sense of personalisation. The joy of autumn is that…
Read MoreHow to Plan Your Own Living Funeral
Living funerals are rewriting the rules of how we celebrate life’s journey. Whether you’re facing a terminal diagnosis, living with a progressive condition like Alzheimer’s, or simply wish to gather loved ones for a meaningful celebration, a living funeral offers the precious gift of being present for your own life celebration. It’s an opportunity to hear the stories usually saved for eulogies, to express gratitude in person, and to create lasting memories with those you cherish most. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about planning your own living funeral. From choosing the perfect timing and venue to creating a ceremony that truly reflects your personality, we’ll explore how to blend traditional elements with personal…
Read MoreCelebrant interview: How to get through the day of the funeral
‘No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.’ – C S Lewis Interview with David Linaker, a former Anglican priest who, having moved outside of the formal faith environment, offers families a powerful partnership in helping them to say their goodbyes in their way, with or without religious content. David is here to talk to us about how to get through the day of the funeral emotionally. He passes on his experience and knowledge as a long-serving Celebrant. So take it away David: In nearly 53 years of attending or leading funeral services, I’ve experienced and witnessed the spectrum of human emotion. The death of someone close to us is bound to elicit all sorts of emotional…
Read MoreWhat is a Celebration of Life ceremony?
WHAT IS A ‘CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONY’? What does the phrase ‘Celebration of Life Ceremony’ mean exactly? Simply put, it’s a type of funeral ceremony which pays tribute to a loved one, acknowledges their death, but most importantly does what it says on the tin – it celebrates their life, their accomplishments, their achievements, their wins. What types of funeral are there? There are mainly three types of funeral services, which are usually officiated by a religious minister, a humanist, or a celebrant. A traditional funeral service is normally held in a church or religious building and is officiated by a religious minister. Some religious ceremonies apply the rules of their religion to the letter, whereas some may be a…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Guide to Writing and Giving a Eulogy at a funeral for a loved one
Writing and Giving a eulogy at a funeral for a loved one is an incredible honour and a deeply personal task. A eulogy brings the person’s memory to life and helps create a legacy they will be remembered by. However, the process of writing and delivering a eulogy can feel daunting. How do you capture a lifetime in just a few minutes? What should you include to make it meaningful, and how do you manage emotions while delivering it? This guide answers these questions and more, offering step-by-step advice to help you write and deliver a heartfelt eulogy with confidence. What Is a Eulogy? A eulogy is a spoken tribute given during a funeral to honour and remember someone who…
Read MoreChoosing a Direct Cremation like trend setter David Bowie
The past 18 months have be challenging for every person in the funeral profession and mourners alike. The pandemic has pushed families to source alternative options for saying goodbye to their loved ones, moving away from traditional ones. Here’s where Celebrants come in. Celebrants are storytellers by trade and at The Celebrant Directory we have a wealth of advice and inspiration written by Celebrants creating ceremonies across the world. Directory member Helen Noble, Best National Celebrant for Funerals CDGA shares her insights into Direct Cremations and Memorials, first made popular by David Bowie. Since he passed, the demand for Direct Cremations have rocketed by 400% – a true trend setter in both life and death. What is a Direct Cremation?…
Read MoreHow to deal with grief when you are abroad
In the final part of our trilogy considering different aspects of grief, one experienced funeral Celebrant in Spain looks at death and dying overseas. Read on for a very personal account full of advice on how to die well abroad. My reasons for becoming a funeral Celebrant In 2004 my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal Cancer. She died aged 63 on 5 November 2005 at 11.55pm she loved fireworks and the noise outside the hospice in Hackney where she died was deafening. To this day I still say she chose that day to die so we would remember – she knows how bad I am with dates! Whilst she was in the hospice we planned her funeral, she…
Read MoreHow to include young children in funerals
Involving young children in funerals is a crucial aspect of helping them understand and cope with the loss of a loved one. While it may seem counterintuitive to expose children to such a sombre event, research indicates that participation in funeral rituals can significantly aid in a child’s grieving process by providing a sense of closure and understanding of death. Ideas to include young children in Funerals When including children in funerals, it’s essential to consider age-appropriate activities that allow them to participate meaningfully. Here are some ways to involve young children: Other ways to include children in Funerals [Child touching a coffin. Photo by Anna Groot ] The importance of including children in funerals Whilst funerals can be sad…
Read MoreWhat is grief?
Approaching any milestone event such as Christmas or a birthday can be incredibly poignant when you have lost a loved one. In the first of our three part series asking, “What is grief?”, one brave Celebrant shares an intensely moving account of her own personal experience of grief twenty years on. This is my grief? Grief is described in the dictionary as intense sorrow especially caused by someone’s death. That it may be but until it is your grief you have no idea of the intensity of grief, what it is or why it is happening. Life is a blur. Grief is an emotion – an emotion no one wants to choose. Grief is a place – it is a…
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