Our Annual 7 Holiday Gifts for Someone Who Is Grieving 2019

For many of us, the holidays bring joy and the chance to reflect on the past year, savor time with loved ones and welcome the coming year.

But people who have recently lost someone special can find this time of year painful, especially after a year has passed and they see others who appear to have moved on while their own loss still feels fresh.

There are no rules on how long we should grieve or when we should feel ready to resume socializing, which can be hardest during the holidays. So giving a person who is grieving something they can enjoy at home is often best during this time.

To help you navigate this difficult terrain, each year at this time we offer ideas for seven holiday gifts for someone who is grieving. Each of them are appropriate for men or women.

1. A heart-shaped succulent wreath for the front door or the backyard can add color and comfort at the same time. Succulents only need to be watered every one to three weeks and do better with indirect light, a relatively low level of upkeep that the grieving recipient should appreciate.

2. A memorial ornament for the tree is a wonderful gift for someone who is grieving. These ornaments can feature photos of the person who has died and custom text, such as their name, dates of life and a brief phrase.

3. A custom monogram mug honors a person who has died. While we might think dwelling on the name of the person is counter-productive, the person who feels their loss the most still wants to talk about them. A mug with their name on it, perhaps coupled with their favorite coffee or tea, provides a tangible sign of a presence that’s still very much in the heart of someone who is grieving a loss. 

4. A scrapbook album can help the grieving person process memories of the person they’ve lost and give them a way to do it physically and constructively, at a time when they likely would prefer to be alone at home.

5. A glass shadow box is another wonderful gift for someone who is grieving. Your friend or loved one has amassed a collection of items that remind them of the person they’ve lost, and they’ll likely come across more in time. A souvenir from a trip. An old photo. A ticket stub from a memorable event. Such things can sit in the bottom of a drawer somewhere or they can be displayed beautifully in a glass shadow box.

 6. It’s easy to forget about self-care when we’re instead thinking so much about a person we’ve lost. Sometimes we need a little nudge to focus a bit on ourselves again. A spa kit is a great way to encourage someone who is grieving to do just that. 

7. A how-to book on “The Art of Pressed Flowers and Leaves” makes a great gift for a person who enjoys crafting. This art form is enjoying a renaissance, and this book by leading flower artist Jennie Ashmore could give the recipient a welcome diversion as they process their loss. It can also be a heartfelt method to preserve flowers to remember the celebration of life. 

Of course, no gift will fill the void created by the loss that your special someone has suffered. But by being thoughtful during this difficult time, you’ll help them move through the healing process at their own pace.