The First Birthday Without Them

The First Birthday Without Them


For most people, the first birthday after the death of a loved one is extremely difficult to cope with. You want to honour them and celebrate their life in a personal and creative way but somehow it just doesn’t feel right without them there. This is one of the most difficult times in the first year after someone has passed away. It is a day that is all about them and celebrating the beginning of their life. So now that they are gone, it can be a painful and confusing time. Even if you are well into the healing process, birthdays are difficult. This leaves us with one main question, do you celebrate their birthday or treat it as another difficult day in the grieving process. As it turns out, we recommend that you celebrate their birthday. After all, that is still the day they were brought into the world, whether they are still with us or not. Here are some ways that you can celebrate your deceased loved one on their birthday, and turn the occasion into a positive annual milestone. 

Excitement, laughter and blowing out candles is now replaced by a gut-wrenching void that no matter how hard you try, you can’t shake. While you will likely spend the day reminiscing on memories and wishing that they were here, there are little things you can do to help relieve the pain and still honour your loved one.

Do Something They Once Enjoyed

A wonderful idea for honouring your loved one on their birthday is to do something they would have enjoyed. Whether it be watching their favourite movie, or cooking up their favourite dish or creating a playlist of their favourite songs; these are all great ways to celebrate their memory.

Visit Their fFinal Resting Place

This is a meaningful opportunity to visit your lost friend or passed away family member. If going by yourself is too difficult for you, you could plan to go with your family or even with another small group. Often times, people leave flowers at their loved one’s gravesite to pay their respects on important days or holidays.

Donate to a Charity in Their Name

If you’re used to giving a gift to your loved one on their birthday, there are other ways of giving that will just as equally honour them. A great option is to donate to a charity or cause that was close to the heart of your deceased friend or family member. If the cause of death was due to a certain medical condition, you could consider donating to a charity that provides support or research into that illness. 

Light a Candle

Lighting a candle to remember the life of someone special to you has been a symbolic act for quite some time. Burning a candle and keeping it lit during family events can also be a small reminder of your shared loss.


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