Commemorate and Celebrate: Ideas for Developing Your Own Ceremonies for Life Events
Whatever your religion, whether you believe in a god or goddess or are staunchly atheist, you will find as you go through life that there are times when you want to observe a life-changing event. The birth makes many parents think about planning a ceremony. I recently attended a friend’s alternative ceremony called Circle of Life. The parents wrote and read poems to the baby and then planted the placenta with a tree on top while we all sang Circle of Life. It was moving and much more memorable than a standard ceremony. I gave the family a hand-engraved plaque to put in front of the tree, marking the date and the baby’s name, so that as he grew up, he would remember that it was his tree.
There are many different things you can do to celebrate the birth of your child. Another couple, Antonia and David, did not want to commit their son to a faith before he was old enough to make his own decisions, so they planned their own naming ceremony. “We reserved a room for Daisy’s first birthday and invited friends, family, and everyone we felt were part of Daisy’s community, who would play a role in her life as she grew up. We looked for readings that we thought would convey some of our hope for her life and we asked some close friends to be Daisy’s guardians. “You can also have a thanksgiving in a church, where you are not asked to affirm the Christian faith, But the church family gives thanks for the birth of the child and promises to love and support the family as it grows.
Not all ceremonies are celebrations. I realized this, especially when a friend’s baby was stillborn at 30 weeks and the family wanted to mark the baby’s life. The local vicar was helpful and together with the parents they planned a very short ceremony, which allowed everyone to express their sadness. Again, planting a tree at a time like this can be a living reminder of the short life.
It is difficult to think clearly when there has been a death in the family and planning a funeral ceremony can be emotional. Remember that what you do is up to you. You don’t have to have a ceremony at all; A professional to lead the ceremony is optional and you do not need to use a funeral director. You can choose where to perform the ceremony. Planning permission is not required if you want to use your own land for the royal burial, or if you have limited space, you can choose a natural burial ground. Rather than looking for a plot in an already crowded cemetery, natural cemeteries allow relatives to mark a burial site with a tree, or know that the plot will become a wildflower meadow for several years. Natural cemeteries often require a biodegradable cardboard, bamboo, or wicker casket.
There are many reasons why a traditional wedding ceremony doesn’t work for everyone. Whether you’re limited by budget, don’t want to be limited by the traditional setting of a wedding ceremony, or have been frustrated that you can’t get your relationship officially recognized, more and more people are coming up with their own event. By selecting words, poems, and readings that have special meaning to you, you can plan a truly special day. You may prefer a natural outdoor setting, but if you want your engagement to have legal status as well, you will need to choose a licensed location for your ceremony or visit your local Registrar’s Office.
There are many ways to mark an event. Search online for a wide range of resources, such as http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk or http://www.civilceremonies.co.uk. You can order a personalized garden plaque for any of these occasions at [http://www.treefromme.co.uk].
