Top ways to celebrate a loved one after death - including sharing stories about them

This video shows the heartfelt and touching ways people want to be remembered when they pass – from getting their friends to take a dip in the North Sea, to their mates having a drink in their honour.

Charlie Rich, who was answering questions in Waterloo, said: “I would love my friends to remember me by going through the gruelling physical activity of running into the North Sea.”

Others spoke about the ways in which they have already paid tribute to those who have passed – including a bike ride from London to Paris, and drinking their favourite soup.

Farrah Sardar said: “If you love someone, they’re always with you, and we’ll do something special for them just to keep the memory alive.”

It comes after a poll of 2,000 UK adults revealed the quirky ways people remember loved ones who have passed away – including getting a tattoo, running a marathon, and retelling their best jokes.

More than three-quarters of Brits feel it is important to celebrate the memory of a loved one after they die (Paula Connelly/Getty Images)

Wearing a football shirt from their favourite team, and ticking items off their bucket list, are also among the homages to celebrate the legacy and memories of family and friends who are no longer with them.

Other popular ways to remember loved ones were to go on a day trip to a meaningful place, cook a recipe learned from them, or create a piece of art.

It emerged that 77 per cent feel it's important to celebrate and remember loved ones – with 85 per cent believing such celebrations should be positive rather than upsetting.

The research was commissioned ahead of Celebration Day on Sunday, 28 May, to encourage people to pause, come together, and celebrate those no longer with us.

Julia Samuel MBE, grief specialist and psychologist, said: “Talking about death is still seen as a taboo subject, but it is so important that we do, and that we continue to share stories and rituals and tales about our loved ones who have died.

“Having a special day like Celebration Day where we can say their name, talk about them, we can laugh about them, and we can remember them, helps us with confidence and robustness to take them forward with us, as we go forward.”

The study also found 72 per cent of adults would be interested in planting a tree to remember a loved one – with the top reasons for this including protecting the environment, and finding trees peaceful.

But 65 per cent believe, aside from specific days of remembrance, there are too few opportunities where everyone feels encouraged to come together and talk about lost loved ones.

And 63 per cent don’t have a regular ritual to remember a lost loved one – with 24 per cent believing that Britain as a society is not very good at managing grief, loss, and death.

Of those who find it an uncomfortable subject, 29 per cent worry about upsetting others, while 22 per cent feel there is “never a good time” to bring up such a potentially difficult subject with people they know.

Despite this, one in five would like to talk more about loved ones who have passed away, according to OnePoll.com figures – while 70 per cent enjoy hearing stories about them.

TOP WAYS BRITS CELEBRATE LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY:

1. Look through photographs of them
   
2. Share a story about them with others
3. Raise a glass/make a toast
4. Light a candle
5. Donate to charity in their memory
6. Listen to their favourite song
7. Plant a tree or flower in their memory
8. Share a post on social media
9. Re-tell their favourite jokes and catchphrases
10. Visit their favourite place
11. Send a message to someone else
12. Cook a recipe you learnt from them
13. Sit on a bench overlooking a view they liked
14. Create a memory book
15. Watch their favourite movie
16. Send a card to someone else
17. Cook their favourite meal
18. Wear their favourite colour
19. Give a gift to someone else
20. Dog walk in the place that person loved
21. Create a virtual tribute
22. Get a tattoo in their memory
23. Create a piece of art
24. Buy an item of clothing because you know that person would have approved
25. Wear a football shirt from their favourite team
26. Continue a collection they had started e.g. stickers, coins, pottery, etc.
27. Have their ashes made into jewellery
28. Install a bench
29. Have their clothes made into a blanket or teddy
30. Have an announcement made over the PA at their favourite sports club's next game