Grieving at Christmas

How to cope with bereavement
through winter and the festive season

Winter can be a very difficult time when you are grieving. As the season which celebrates love and family time, it’s no wonder that Christmas and the festive season can be a time when you may struggle with your grief. There are lots of potential ‘triggers’ everywhere, whether you celebrate Christmas or not – TV advertising, personalised cards, friends talking about their plans, poignant music and films.  

It doesn’t matter whether this is your first, fifth or tenth winter without your important person, it can be hard to deal with grief at this time of year. Below we’ve put together some advice and tips from the Winston’s Wish bereavement team and those who have experience of grief to help you and your children to cope with grief throughout winter and the Christmas season. 

Guidance for adults supporting grieving children

Coping with grief at Christmas

Tips on how parents, carers and other family members can help grieving children and young people to cope with their grief at Christmas.

5 ways to remember someone this winter

Winter and the Christmas holidays can be a difficult time of year. Here are five ways to remember your person this season. 

Grief at Christmas: Common questions asked by parents and carers

You’re not the only one struggling. Here are some common questions our on-demand services team are asked.

How to cope at Christmas as a widowed parent

Tips from our friends at Widowed and Young on getting through the festive season when you’re a widowed parent.

Christmas grief activities for children and young people

Here are some grief activities that might help a bereaved child or young person cope with their grief at Christmas.

My Christmas as a widowed parent with bereaved children

Our ambassador, Gary, shares his experience of Christmas with his two children after his wife/their mum died.

Guidance for grieving children and young people

How to cope with your first Christmas without your person – Youth Team

Three of our Youth Ambassadors, Anna, Libby and Angharad, reflect on their first Christmas without their person.

Coping with the first Christmas after someone dies

A guide for grieving young people from the Winston’s Wish Bereavement Specialists.

Podcast: How do you cope with grief at Christmas?

A Christmas special of our podcast Grief in Common featuring Zoe and Maisie talking about how they struggle with their grief during the festive season.

Iman: Why I grieve during a holiday I don’t celebrate

Iman, Youth Ambassador, shares how she grieves at Christmas even though she doesn’t celebrate the occasion.

How to cope with loneliness over winter

Over winter, with the darker evenings, feelings of loneliness can seem more overwhelming than ever.

8 tips for grieving young people struggling during the winter

Winston’s Wish bereavement specialists share their 8 top tips for bereaved teens and young adults through the colder months.

Christmas can feel like a lonely time when you’ve lost somebody, and the entire world seems to be singing and dancing about family and friends and spending time with people. Make sure that you prioritise yourself at Christmas time – it’s not being a Grinch to need some alone time to reflect on your feelings and have a cry, and it’s not wrong to enjoy yourself and let loose and just forget a little about what’s happened. Christmas can still be a happy time even when somebody special is missing.

Maya, Winston’s Wish Youth Team

Bereavement support without the wait

Our expert bereavement team are available to speak with right away. No appointments or waiting lists, just real-life support. Start a conversation now. You can speak with us between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). You must be 13 or older and in the UK to receive support via text or WhatsApp. If you need to speak to us in a language other than English, we can use interpreters over the phone, and we can use the Relay UK app if you have hearing or speech difficulties. For urgent support in a crisis, please call 999. 

Call free on 08088 020 021

Email us on ask@winstonswish.org or fill out our contact form and we’ll reply within two working days.

Click the blue ‘Chat with us’ button at the bottom right of your screen.

Text or WhatsApp us on 07418 341 800 (open 3pm-8pm, Monday to Friday).

Help us support grieving children this Christmas

Some children won’t get to wish the person they love a Merry Christmas this year. Help make their holidays a little brighter by supporting our appeal.

In the midst of twinkling lights, songs and laughter, there are young people carrying the heavy burden of grief, facing the reality of a card that won’t be read, a bad joke left untold, or an empty armchair.

Make a donation today, to help us be there for grieving children and young people this Christmas.

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