From the workshop
Memorial Christmas Tree Decorations to Remember a Loved One
Christmas has a way of reminding us who is missing: the empty chair at the table, the card that won't come this year. For a lot of families, the tree becomes the place where that person is still part of things, with a decoration that carries their name.
We make four memorial Christmas tree decorations, handmade in Scotland and personalised with the name of the person you are remembering: an oak robin, a bauble for Mum, angel wings and a star. They're from £5 each and made to order. Here's a little about each one.
Oak robin in memory decoration
Many people say that robins appear when loved ones are near. If you have ever seen one on the fence on a cold morning and thought of someone, you'll know why a robin means so much to families at Christmas.
Our oak robin in memory decoration is laser cut and engraved from 4mm oak veneer, approximately 10cm high, with the name engraved on the robin, for example "Granda". It's £5, and it suits a tree with plenty of greenery.
You could order several of the same robin, so each brother and sister, or each household, has one for their own tree. It's a quiet way of remembering someone together, even when you are spending Christmas in different places.
A memorial bauble for Mum (Always in our hearts)
Our Mum memorial Christmas decoration is a clear acrylic bauble with "Mum" in white, surrounded by snowflakes, a heart and the words "Always in our hearts". It's finished with a red ribbon and costs £5.95.
The bauble says "Mum" as shown, or we can change it to another name of up to 12 characters, such as "Nan", "Dad" or "Grandma". "Always in our hearts" is part of the design, though we can change it if you'd like different words.
Angel wings in memory decoration
Our angel wings memorial decoration is new this year: a pair of wings with a halo, cut from mirrored acrylic that picks up the glow of the tree. There are eight colours: silver, gold, rose gold, pink, red, purple, blue and teal. You can leave the wings plain for £6, or add a name for £6.50 and we engrave it on one wing, for example "Dad". It comes with a ribbon, ready to hang.
Plain wings are a kind choice if you are buying for a friend and would rather not guess how they'd like the name written.
Star 'In Memory' decoration
Our Star 'In Memory' decoration is also 4mm oak veneer, approximately 10cm high, with "Our star in the sky" along one arm and a name such as "Dad". It's £5.
What to write on a memorial Christmas decoration
On each of these decorations, the part you choose is the name. On the Mum bauble and the star, the words "Always in our hearts" and "Our star in the sky" are already part of the design, which can help when words are hard to find.
If you'd like different words, we can change them. Just add a note to your order in the basket, or get in touch before you order and tell us what you'd like.
- The name you called them: "Mum", "Grandad", "Nana" or "Sister".
- A relationship and a name: "Aunt Isobel" or "Uncle Jim".
- Two people on one decoration: "Mum and Dad" fits on every one, even the Mum bauble, and lays out nicely.
Think about how your family said the name. "Granda", "Grandad" and "Papa" can mean a lot to the people who used them. We make every decoration exactly as you type it, so please check the spelling.
A gift for someone facing their first Christmas without a loved one
Giving something to a grieving friend can feel hard to get right. A small decoration is often easier to receive than a big gesture. It doesn't ask anything of them, and it tells them you remember too.
- For a friend who has lost their mum: the Mum memorial bauble.
- For someone who always notices robins: the oak robin in memory decoration.
- For grandchildren remembering a grandparent: the oak robin or the star, with "Nan" or "Granda", for them to hang.
- From a colleague or neighbour: plain angel wings in a colour they'd like.
Some people add a memorial decoration to the family's Christmas order, so the person they are missing has a place on the tree alongside everyone else.
Ordering one for each of the family
If you're ordering one for each brother and sister, our tree decoration offer takes a little off. It covers all four of these in memory Christmas decorations and the rest of our personalised Christmas tree decorations, and you can mix and match designs: 2 = 10% off, 3 = 15% off, and 4 or more = 20% off. It comes off automatically in the basket, with no code, until 24 December.
Ordering in time for Christmas
Memorial decorations are often among the first Christmas orders we make each year, as many of them are posted on to brothers, sisters and grandparents in other places. If yours are going on to family, it's worth ordering early, ideally by the start of December, to leave time for that second journey.
Everything is made to order and dispatched in 2 to 5 working days. UK delivery with Royal Mail or Evri usually takes 2 to 3 working days after dispatch, and UK delivery is free on orders over £20. Our last order date for delivery before Christmas is Monday 14 December. If you need it by a certain date, please get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. For more ideas, see our personalised Christmas gifts.
Memorial Christmas tree decorations: your questions
What do you write on a memorial Christmas decoration?
Most people write the name they called the person, such as "Mum" or "Grandad", or a relationship with a name, such as "Aunt Isobel". On our Mum bauble and star, the words "Always in our hearts" and "Our star in the sky" are part of the design, and we can change them if you'd like something different.
Can I have a name, or two names, on a memorial bauble?
Yes. "Mum and Dad" fits on every decoration here and lays out nicely. The Mum bauble takes up to 12 characters. The oak robin, star and angel wings take up to 25, so "Grandma and Grandad" fits those. For a name on the angel wings, choose "Yes Please".
What does "robins appear when loved ones are near" mean?
It's a well known saying that when a robin comes close, someone you have lost is near. Many people find comfort in it, especially at Christmas.
Do you make a Christmas decoration to remember a pet?
Yes. Our mirrored paw print takes your pet's name in eight colours, for £6, and our oak baubles for pugs, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters are £5.50. See our personalised pet Christmas decorations.
Will a memorial decoration arrive in time to post on to family?
Yes, if you leave time for both journeys. Monday 14 December is our last order date for delivery to you before Christmas, so if you are sending it on, please order earlier, ideally by the start of December. Every decoration is made to order and dispatched in 2 to 5 working days.
More from our Christmas series