For many, Christmas time is not just a time for celebrating, enjoying gifts, and eating great homemade food. It’s also a reminder that the loved ones we’ve lost are no longer there to celebrate with us. However, they are still in your heart, which is why memorial Christmas gifts can be a great way to honor them, keep them in your traditions, and cherish the time you had together.
For over 20 years, Capture has been helping families preserve precious memories of loved ones. That’s why we put together this list of 10+ heartfelt memorial Christmas gifts to help you cherish and honor your loved ones this holiday season.
Keep reading to learn about the significance of memorial gifts and use our list of bereavement gifts as inspiration including remembrance ornaments, custom photo frames, memory books, memorial candles, and so much more.
Jump to:
- The Significance of Memorial Gifts
- 12 Memorial Christmas Gift Ideas
- Tips for Choosing the Perfect Memorial Gift
- How Capture Can Help in Creating Lasting Memories
- Conclusion
The Significance of Memorial Gifts
If you have a loved one who recently passed away, then a remembrance gift or memorial keepsake is a great way to remember them, honor them, and keep their spirit alive in your Christmas traditions.
It’s a meaningful way to remember your loved ones and everything they mean to you while also making them a part of your gift giving experiences. It can also help you through the grieving process without trying to move on because it allows you to confront your emotions during this difficult time.
Capture has always loved helping over 12 million families preserve precious memories and experiences, which is essential both at Christmas time and when you’ve lost someone close. If you want to make sure the photos, home movies, and family memories of your loved one are preserved forever, Capture’s state-of-the-art facilities can help.
12 Memorial Christmas Gift Ideas
Memorial gift ideas should be thoughtful, represent your love, and honor your loved one’s personality and memory. Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to help your family members celebrate Christmas in heaven.
Personalized Remembrance Ornaments
Memorial Christmas ornaments are a great way to remember your loved one this holiday season. That’s because memorial ornaments can include dates, meaningful messages, and even your favorite photo of your loved one who passed. Plus, photo ornaments will be hung on the tree every year, making it a great way to honor your loved one every Christmas.
Custom Memorial Photo Frames
A beautiful memorial picture frame is a fantastic sympathy gift. You can customize it with condolences directly from my heart as well as a photo of you, your loved one, or the whole family to preserve that memory forever. Plus, there are tons of unique gift frames that have images that go along with your loved one’s interests whether they are outdoor & garden hobbyists, pet lovers, or 80s car enthusiasts.
Engraved Keepsake Boxes
Engraved keepsake boxes are a great way to honor your loved one. You can have them engraved with custom messages and other personalized memorial gifts. For example, you could get a keepsake box and include a letter, Polaroid pictures, precious belongings, or any other mementos that spark the memories you shared.
Memory Quilts
Memory quilts or memorial blankets are a great way to honor your loved one. Each section of the quilt can be based on a different memory. You can make one yourself and even include fabric, yard, and clothing from your loved one. You can also have them made with different patterns, symbols, and photos. Just make sure you first convert photos to digital to preserve them forever before sending them to a quilt making company.
Bespoke Memorial Jewelry
Whether you’re looking for dog memorial gifts or a remembrance gift for a relative or friend, jewelry is a great way to keep them close to your heart. You can get a bracelet or ring engraved with a certain message or quote, add a photo to a locket, or even add their name and birthday to a keychain to ensure they’re always with you.
Commemorative Tree Planting
A commemorative tree is a living tribute that shares its love with the world. You can plant one yourself or choose an organization like ALivingTribute.org to have a tree planted in your loved one’s favorite National Forest. If you plant the tree in your yard, you can also add a memorial plaque, bird feeder for hummingbirds, or other home décor to create a tranquil place that honors the spirit of your loved one.
Memorial Candles
A memorial lantern or candle holder is a best-selling remembrance gift for a reason: they symbolize the continued life of the deceased and encourage peace during the grieving process. Some include messages like “In Loving Memory” while others offer personalized messages or even a photo to honor their life.
Custom Star Maps
A custom star map is a fantastic condolence gift that you can get at places like StarryMaps.com. They can act as wall art that shows the stars’ alignment at a specific time and date like the day you met your loved one or their birthday. It’s personal, thoughtful, and makes for a great memorial gift as well as a cherished 50th anniversary gift, birthday present, or gift any other special occasion.
Memory Books
A memory book is a great personalized Christmas gift that can include all your memories of loved ones who are no longer with us. You can write down memories and stories, include photos, decorate with special mementos, and add new pages for other relatives. Then, you can pass it down to future generations.
Personalized Angel Figurines
Personalized angel figurines are a great way to memorialize your loved one and symbolize their relationship with God. There are several different types including memorial garden stones with angel wings, angel photo gifts for him or her, and laser engraved glass figurines.
Memorial Wind Chimes
The gentle sound of a wind chime is a reminder that your loved one is nearby, making this one of the best memorial gifts for loss. There are tons of different designs you can get and some even allow you to add an engraving or photo of your loved one. Some cultures also believe they bring good luck and ward off negative energy.
Memorial DVD Slideshow
Creating a DVD or digital slideshow that showcases favorite photos and home movies is a wonderful way to honor your loved one. Capture can create a DVD of all your digitized memories including photos, photo slides, film reels, and old video camera tapes. Then, at your Christmas gathering you and your family can watch the memories and remember the joy your loved one inspired.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Memorial Gift
Choosing the perfect family member, friend, or pet memorial gift can sometimes be hard, especially when you’re already grieving and vulnerable. Here are some factors that you may want to keep in mind when selecting a gift.
First, think about the personal connection you had with your loved one. This can include certain experiences, shared interests and hobbies, and the personal relationship you had with them. If you loved spending time outdoors with them, for example, you might get them a commemorative tree or memorial garden stone.
Next, think about the longevity of the gift. Some gifts won’t last very long like candles but can still be nice. However, if you want to memorialize them for years to come, then you might want to get something else in addition to or instead of candles.
Additionally, things like Christmas ornaments are used only once a year, which is great. However, if you want to see the memorial gift more often, then you might want to get a decoration or item you will see or use all year long.
How Capture Can Help in Creating Lasting Memories
Capture preserves photographic and home movie memories forever. That ensures your loved one lasts forever in the hearts and minds of future generations. Plus, if you’re planning on personalizing the memorial Christmas gifts with a photo, we will help you ensure that you retain the original in high-quality digital format.
If you’re still unsure what to get as a Christmas memorial gift or any of the best Christmas gifts for parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, neighbors, and anyone else, checkout out digitizing gift ideas!
Conclusion
Memorial Christmas gifts are important because they keep the memories and spirit of your loved ones alive during the holiday season. There are tons of options to choose from that are thoughtful, elegant, and sentimental including memory quilts, keepsake boxes, memorial jewelry, or remembrance ornaments. Whatever you select, we’re sure it will make your loved one happy in heaven.
