The Christmsas season is often a time of joy, family gatherings, and cherished traditions. But for those who have recently lost a loved one, Christmas can feel like an emotional hurdle—a season filled with reminders of someone who is no longer there. During such times, finding meaningful ways to honour and remember your loved one can bring comfort and a sense of closeness. Preserving flowers can be a powerful way to keep their memory alive during your first Christmas without them.
The Tradition of Wreaths at Resting Places
One of the most common ways people remember loved ones during the festive season is by laying wreaths at their resting place. These wreaths, often made from holly, ivy, and seasonal blooms, are symbols of eternal life, resilience, and love. However, as meaningful as these wreaths are, they are ultimately fleeting.
Aberdeen and Shire councils, like many across the UK, begin removing wreaths and Christmas decorations from cemeteries around February 1st. This practical action can feel heartbreaking, especially when the wreaths represent a significant act of remembrance. For some, it may feel like another goodbye.
Preserving flowers from these wreaths offers a way to turn these fleeting symbols into a lasting keepsake, one you can treasure long after the festive season has passed.
Why Preserving Flowers Can Be Comforting
Flowers hold deep emotional significance. They’re present in moments of joy and sadness, often expressing what words cannot. Preserving flowers allows you to hold onto a tangible connection to your loved one, turning something that would otherwise wilt away into a timeless memento.
Here’s how preserving flowers can help during your first Christmas without a loved one:
1. Keeping Their Memory Close
Preserving flowers from a Christmas wreath or arrangement keeps their memory alive in a tangible way. Whether it’s a single rose or a mix of festive blooms, having a physical reminder of your loved one can provide comfort during a time when their absence feels especially profound.
2. Creating a Personal Heirloom
By preserving flowers, you can create a keepsake that becomes a cherished family heirloom. A resin paperweight, ornament, or piece of jewellery can serve as a beautiful reminder of the person you’ve lost, something to hold onto during difficult moments or to pass down through generations.
3. Turning Mourning Into Meaning
The act of preserving flowers is itself meaningful. It transforms the sorrow of seeing blooms fade into the joy of knowing they’ve been preserved forever. This process can help shift your focus from loss to remembrance, turning mourning into a creative and healing expression of love.
How to Preserve Flowers from Christmas Wreaths
If you’ve laid a wreath or placed flowers at a loved one’s resting place, preserving a few blooms is easier than you might think. Here’s how to get started:
- Collect the Flowers: Visit the cemetery to collect a small selection of flowers before the council begins clearing wreaths. It’s best to do this within a few weeks of placing them to ensure the blooms are still in good condition.
- Prepare the Flowers: Gently clean the flowers of any dirt or debris. Dry them using a press or silica gel to remove moisture, as resin works best with completely dried flowers.
- Choose a Keepsake Style: Decide how you’d like your flowers to be preserved. Popular options include resin ornaments, blocks, or photo frames.
- Work with a Professional: If you’re unsure about the process, consider working with a flower preservation specialist like ResinIt. We’ll handle the entire process, ensuring your flowers are transformed into a beautiful, lasting keepsake.
Honouring Loved Ones Beyond Christmas
Preserving flowers isn’t just for Christmas—it’s a meaningful way to honour your loved one year-round. Whether it’s flowers from a birthday bouquet, memorial service, or anniversary, preserved blooms serve as a constant reminder of their presence in your life.
Having a preserved keepsake allows you to bring their memory into your home, creating a sense of closeness that lasts long after the Christmas season has ended.
Creating Something Beautiful Out of Loss
Grief is a complex journey, and everyone processes it differently. For many, the first Christmas without a loved one is one of the hardest milestones to face. While nothing can replace the person you’ve lost, preserving flowers can provide a small sense of solace—a way to hold onto their memory and celebrate the love you shared.
Instead of letting your flowers wilt away or be removed after the festive period, why not transform them into something timeless? A preserved flower keepsake can help you carry their memory with you, offering comfort not just during the Christmas period but throughout the year.
Preserve Your Memories with ResinIt
At ResinIt, I understand how deeply meaningful flowers can be. My mission is to help you preserve your most precious blooms, creating keepsakes that honour the memories tied to them.
If you’re considering preserving flowers from a Christmas wreath or arrangement, I’d be honoured to help. Together, we can create a beautiful piece that celebrates your loved one’s life and legacy, offering comfort and connection during this emotional time.
Contact me today to discuss your preservation options or to book your keepsake. Let’s turn your flowers into something timeless, ensuring your loved one’s memory stays close to your heart this Christmas and beyond.
