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Why wait for someone to die to celebrate their life ?
Every significant birthday is an opportunity to express our appreciation that we have a particular family member or friend in our lives.
Perhaps you think special appreciation ceremonies are only for elderly birthdays ?
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Obviously birthdays for our elders are the first to come to mind.
And such celebrations can assist the family in:
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thinking of something as a gift (how many more "things" does one need in later life?)
• recording family history which may be used later in a variety of ways
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providing a special time for family members to come together, which can be all too rare in our busy lives.
But life can be short. Tragically younger people can be killed in accidents or contract fatal illnesses. We have no guarantees for the three score years and ten.
Whether the person is 21 or approaching 61, there are opportunities to club together to create a very special event as our combined gift.
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Not just any event like a party with the odd speeches. But a well planned time for a meaningful ceremony, with participation by family and friends.
There are plenty of years between milestone birthdays like 40, 50, 60, 70 and so on for people to give individual gifts.
One increasingly popular style is a "This is Your Life" style ceremony.
Here the ceremony involves prior research and preparation of both content and participants, a life summary of significant events and tributes in person or via audio-visual media.
Such ceremonies may also involve music, singing, story-telling, poetry, prose and could also involve dance, processions and the use of symbols such as lighting candles or using Dreams & Treasure boxes.
The role of a celebrant would be to:
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work with the group to plan the ceremony for its form and content are psychologically and socially appropriate |
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interview the guest of honour or close family and friends to create a "Life Story Album" with text and photos |
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organise the development of a DVD pictorial review if desired |
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Organise an Appreciation Album for guest contributions |
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lead and guide the ceremony through its various stages to a fitting conclusion. |
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| A Sample Format for Ceremony:
• Welcome
• Introduction
• Reading
• Person's Story -Stories around birth and family/ historical contact
- Reminiscences - Reading - Music from the era - Photos etc
• Person's Story - Part 2 The earlier years, adventures, challenges and achievements
- Reminiscences - Reading - Music from the era - Photos etc
• Person's Story - Part 3 The later years, adventures, treasured memories, wisdom gained
- Reminiscences - Reading - Music from the era - Photos etc
• Cutting the Cake, Toast and Presentation of Certificate
• Person's Story - Part 4 Dreams fulfilled, future plans. thank yous
• Closing Reading or Singing or Ritual
• Quests Good Wishes
• Conclusion
Obviously there are many variations on the way such a ceremony may be conducted.
• Talented family and friends may be willing to perform in a variety of ways.
• Personalised rituals may be developed
• An Appreciation Album
• Family & friends wishes wishing well
• DVD of photos and/or a variety of others aids may be created or used to enhance the occasion.
Remember though, that 90% of the effort in creating such a special occasion is in the organising and planning the ceremony, and 10% in the delivery.
That's why we say: Let the celebration be your gift ! Club together to hire an independent professional celebrant to work with you to the depth you desire.
Most celebrants will offer you a variety of packages to suit your situation.
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Ceremonies are usually followed by food and drink, again appropriate to the situation.
Depending on where such an event is held, such a meal could be a picnic, an BYO luncheon or afternoon tea in a community hall or catered for by an appropriate restaurant or function centre.
Being newer ceremonies finding a celebrant to use may take a little time.
Please contact us if you need assistance locating such a celebrant.
If you have ideas to share about how such a ceremony could work or suggestions for its components, please contact us
If you have been to such a ceremony and would like to share with others the things that worked and things to avoid:
please register, then go to Forums and submit your experiences or suggestions.
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