As early as the fourth century, days were set aside to commemorate all the saints at once. Today we continue this tradition using the varied practices of All Saints Day, All Souls Day and the Day of the Dead all of which are celebrated on November 1 or 2.

While there might be services in church, in both Catholic and Protestant observances, most of these traditions do not include children and their grief. This celebration takes place around the dinner table to remember, cherish and celebrate the lives of those that have died. There is room in this celebration to talk about the reality of death and share in stories that will continue to inspire every member of the family to honor the ancestors.

This downloadable resource includes:

*menu suggestions for a family feast

*an informal family-centered liturgy focused on storytelling

*resources for parents to talk about death and dying

*optional song suggestions

As a child of grief and a parent trying to answer my young children’s biggest questions, I wrote this to share with my own family as we try to make sense of love and death in this life. I pray it creates a sacred space for your family too.