This week Mexicans will be gathering to pray, remember and celebrate those who have died. There are so many ways that many cultures remember their loved ones after they've died. Celebrant Mel Lawson from Oberon, NSW is sharing a few with us...
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In 1990 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish October 1st as the International Day of Older Persons. Celebrant Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay, NSW gives us a few ideas about celebrating the older people in our families and communities.
Our lives are constantly changing and evolving. This is inevitable. So why do we think that once we get married - that's it, we don't have to try to keep connecting with our partner? A marriage is a union of two separate people who will face personal challenges that may differ from their partners, so it's important that we continue to learn about each other....
It's officially spring....
the flowers are blooming...
new life is emerging....
Are you one of the many couples finding that you need to change your wedding plans because of the coronavirus? The reality of travel restrictions as well as those on ceremonies and wedding receptions means making some decisions. Luckily we have Celebrant and Chairperson of The Celebrants Network - Sonia Collins at the ready to give some suggestions...
Here's a handy guide for you..... you're welcome!
Photo source: www.memorablegifts.com on Pinterest
Do you know what else a great idea to celebrate your anniversary?
Doing it all again.
Renewing your vows.
Reaffirming just how much you love each other
and maybe adding in some new vows.
Photo source: Abiruth.com on Pinterest
Click here to read more about anniversary ceremonies
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Normally you think of events like weddings, funerals and naming days, but there are way more events in our lives where we can add ceremony.
Ceremonial aspects of events shouldn’t be underestimated in importance. They include opening and closing speeches, music, playing of national anthems, the reciting of special words, presentation of awards and flowers, flag raising, present giving and blowing out of candles.
While it’s not absolutely necessary to add ceremony to your party or event, it does give it meaning and clarification.
A ceremony can add greatly to the emotion, symbolism and entertainment value of the event and whilst you're at it - why not make it a Party with a Purpose
One great way to make sure that your event has a beautiful and meaningful ceremony is to engage a TCN Celebrant. If fact, why not come together with family members or other guests and make your TCN Celebrant your gift.

So, how do you add ceremony to personal events? I’m glad you asked!
Birthday
We’re so used to having or going to birthday parties where you play games and eat as much sugar as you little body can handle. Then as grown ups the party turns into drinking as much as you can and buying a present that we didn’t put much thought into. So how are we actually celebrating the birthday person?

Ideas
What about a "This is your life" theme? Invite friends and family to share a story or express their feelings; create a book of memories that the guests have contributed to with photos and tales of the person you are honouring; ask all the guests to write an ode to the birthday girl/boy celebrating what they love about them. Work together with other guests to hire a celebrant to present an awesome ceremony that befits your friend.
Graduation
This is such a transitional time in a person’s life. They have just worked through 6 or 12 or 16+ years of study to be where they are now standing with certificate/diploma/degree/PhD in hand. Each step of the way should be celebrated for the hard slog already done and to help motivate for the next steps ahead.

Ideas
Why not organise a visual gallery of the students' work? Perhaps a ceremony whereby graduating students are paired with younger students interested in the same field as mentors? You could have teachers, parents and other educators let students know what a great effort they’ve put in whilst giving the students the opportunity to share how proud they are of themselves, and to thank their educators.
Anniversary
Anniversaries pass every year, sometimes unnoticed, but each year is a milestone in your relationship and it is a great time to reaffirm your feelings for each other. Maybe this doesn’t need to be a big fanfare every year and maybe for you a private, reflective ceremony is all you need…. but then again - why not celebrate in style every year with a ceremony that says “Hey - look what we did! Again!”
Ideas
Relive your marriage ceremony - repeating your original vows or creating new ones each year as you grow as a couple - also a great excuse for a catch up with your bridal party; Celebrate something different about you as a couple each year - first year: honour your shared love of writing with a poetry infused ceremony; Second year: Celebrate your love of travel with a destination ceremony, you get the idea…
(just a little tip: I know some lovely TCN celebrants who would jump at the chance to perform your ceremony in Fiji!)
Promotion
When you receive a promotion at work, there is sometimes a ceremony and presentation with bosses and work colleagues which is a great acknowledgement of your hard work and achievement, but there is nothing stopping you from having your own ceremonial event because it is a reason to celebrate.
Ideas
Perhaps before you crack the bottle of champas, you could make a speech thanking and giving your own awards to the people who helped you get where are today. Gracious, thoughtful and appreciated.
New home
You’ve saved, you’ve scrimped and you’ve gone without, but now you have the keys to your brand new pad. You’ve organised a housewarming and you can’t wait to crack open a beer and celebrate with your mates….. but stop for a second to think about what you have achieved - that deserves more than just knocking the top off a cold one. Your efforts should be recognised, your sacrifices, applauded.
Ideas
Have a small ceremony to stamp the moment that you did this thing and it will make it all the more memorable; You could thank the people who helped you get there; Have a special blessing put over the house; Light a candle symbolising your future at that address and even use the candle to start the BBQ - #new beginnings!
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There is a comment section ? at the bottom ⬇ of the blog for you to do just that.
? Click on the word "Comment" and go for it!
? Don't forget to subscribe ? to this blog - the "subscribe" button is up the top of the page ⇞⇞⇞ and the blog will magically ?? appear in your email inbox ?.
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Thank you for joining us....
?? We would love it if you would let us know what you think ?.
There is a comment section ? at the bottom ⬇ of the blog for you to do just that.
? Click on the word "Comment" and go for it!
? Don't forget to subscribe ? to this blog - the "subscribe" button is up the top of the page ⇞⇞⇞ and the blog will magically ?? appear in your email inbox ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
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ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: When Rona Goold TCN Coordinator celebrated her 20th Anniversary, she sent her 'sweetie husband" Steve a personal e-card on the theme of 'Life is a bowl of cherries' - when you have a good partner, where one's joined at the heart and that they made "a good pair" with this image :-)
Steve and Rona say that knowing each other's Love Languages is one way they strengthen their relationship.
"Fortunately 'gift giving' is not high on either of our lists, but words of affirmation and acts of service are.On receiving his e-card, Steve declared that it is really great to feel so close that neither "gives each other the pip"!" says Rona
What are your words of advice to newly weds about strengthening their marriage over time?
ASKACELEBRANT Honours ALL Mothers Everywhere!
Why celebrate with ceremony?
Because Mothers give of themselves in so many ways. Plan now for this Mothers Day. Give a Mothers’ Day Gift that is special and unique!
Within the very busy and time poor world of today, seldom do we take the time to honour some of the vital and important ‘things and people’ in our everyday lives.
True we celebrate Birthdays, Christmas, Weddings, and so on, but when it comes to expressions of love and gratitude to certain people, especially our parents, and particularly our Mothers . . . we are inclined to fall into the ‘commercial trappings’ . . . for up until now, there have been few alternative options.
Read more on:
https://www.celebrations.org.au/everyone/content/63-celebrate-mothers-day
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: Problem is by the time I've reached this age, I'll probably need someone else to organise this for me!
So how can a congratulatory message be organised? Australians who are celebrating a special birthday or wedding anniversary can receive personal congratulations from the Prime Minister, Governor-General or The Queen.
Who is eligible for a congratulatory message?
- The Prime Minister will send a message of congratulations to people turning 90 years of age or more.
- The Queen and Governor-General will send a message on a 100th birthday.
Just sent an e-card to a niece in Queensland "A happy anniversary bouquet for a beautiful bride and hubby on their 12th + 2 days anniversary!"
The Traditional symbols for 12th wedding anniversary are Silk/Linen and the New Tradition is Pearls which I love. The Flower is Peony.
Perhaps you can look up the symbols for the next anniversary in your life here at:
How do you and your partner celebrate your anniversaries? And what is it that you celebrate - the anniversary of first meeting, first moving in together or more traditionally, your wedding anniversary?
First thing of course is to remember the date! This can be tricky as many of us know but it is usually greatly appreciated so well worth doing!
Perhaps you are looking for a different and special way to celebrate this year. Maybe it is a significant anniversary for you for some reason. It may be the number - 1st, 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries are often deemed more special, But it may also be something else that is special this year - overcoming difficulties together, starting your family, having the last child leave home - the reasons are as individual as the couples who are celebrating.
Why not think about engaging a celebrant from the The Celebrants Network (TCN) to design and conduct a ceremony that meets your individual needs? You can find a celebrant near you on our website . You can also find lots of information about different ceremonies for anniversaries.
Our TCN founder Rona Goold and her husband Steve had their 21st Wedding Anniversary last year and they asked TCN Celebrant Robyn Lenahan to conduct a ceremony for them.
Rona made a YouTube video using pictures from their wedding to use as part of the ceremony, an example of an original idea that had significance for the guests at their celebration. You can watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua6Qv2Yn5_o&feature=youtu.be and enjoy the original song "I Wish For You" performed by the Two Macs which was first performed at Rona and Steve's wedding.
Tell us about your ideas for celebrating anniversaries by commenting below.