Christmas meals and dinners, as well as the beginning of the New Year, are moments filled with tradition, reunions, and celebration. However, for many people, these moments are also a reminder of the absence of loved ones who are no longer here. Grief, the emotional process that follows a loss, can become more present during these times, where the expectations of joy and togetherness contrast with pain and nostalgia. In this context, celebrations can turn into a mix of joy for what is present and sadness for what is missing.
Grief is not only an emotional response to the loss of a person, but a complex process that involves emotional, psychological, and social adaptation to that absence. Coping strategies are crucial for reconstruction during grief and navigating the possible post-traumatic growth after the loss of a loved person. It is important to recognize that grief does not have a single path or a set time frame. Each person experiences it differently, and during the holidays, the experience can be more intense. Accepting the pain, but also allowing space for gratitude and love for what was lived, is a crucial step in healing. Grief is a process that aligns with the cycle of life: absences remind us of what was valuable, while inviting us to move forward with the strength of memories.
During the holidays, this grief is amplified, as people may feel the lack of the physical presence of those who are no longer here, especially if Christmas or New Year celebrations were important moments shared with them. Family traditions, flavors that evoke memories, and the spaces where laughter and hugs were once shared feel empty without them. However, research highlights the importance of resilience in the processs of recovery as many people are exposed to loss at some point in their lives and yet they continue to have positive emotional experiences and show only minor and transient disruptions in their ability to function.
In this sense, moments of celebration can transform into a way to create new meanings. While the loss of a loved one is irreplaceable, the emotional connection endures over time. Finding ways to keep those people present, whether through family rituals or shared reflections, can give them a special place in our celebrations, contributing to a sense of continuity and love, even in their absence.
Editor of Daily 27.
Predoctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology in University of Barcelona.