Ideas and inspiration
Humanist celebrants craft memorable and meaningful funeral ceremonies, intertwining personal memories with timeless human values. These are their stories.
Why funerals will always be important
The way we say goodbye might be changing, but the need to gather and grieve together hasn't. Here's why a meaningful funeral matters, whatever your budget.
A millennial’s guide to funeral planning
Author: Jessica Holloway Dyker Until you’ve done it, planning a funeral for a parent or loved one seems thankfully a long way off. Then it happens. For me, it was...
What Bill Oddie just taught us about the importance of discussing funeral plans
As a nation, we don’t like talking about death until it happens. People worry that speaking about what they want for a funeral will be seen as upsetting and morbid....
The rise of direct cremation – and why ceremony still matters
A direct cremation involves the unattended cremation of a person’s body without a traditional funeral service beforehand. It may take place at some distance from your home, and you may...
Music was a passion, and a way of bringing people together, for Ivan, Laura’s dad. In this blog, Laura explains how the family – with the help of their humanist...
What to Do With the Ashes of a Loved One: Creating Meaningful Ceremonies
After someone dies, having their ashes with you can feel like a precious responsibility. You may have brought them home after a cremation, or had them delivered to you after...
Talking About Death: A Plan for Conversations That Matter
Talking about death isn’t always easy – but it can be one of the most important conversations we’ll ever have. We’re encouraging people to open up about end-of-life wishes and...
Uplifting Funeral Readings: Bringing Hope and Comfort through a Humanist Ceremony
In the midst of grief, finding moments of light and hope can be incredibly comforting. Uplifting funeral readings – whether poems, prose extracts, or quotes – can play a vital...
Crafting a Meaningful Eulogy for a Humanist Service
Delivering a funeral speech, most commonly known as a eulogy or tribute, is a profound act of love and remembrance. It’s an opportunity to honour a unique life, share cherished...
How to Write a Funeral Speech (Eulogy): A Step-by-Step Guide
Being asked to write and deliver a funeral speech, or eulogy, is a significant honour, but it can also feel like a heavy responsibility, especially when you’re grieving. But, for...
Laughter at a Funeral: Choosing Funny Poems for a Humanist Ceremony
Funerals are naturally poignant occasions, marked by sadness and reflection. However, for someone who lived life with a twinkle in their eye and liked to have a laugh, incorporating humour...
Humanist Funeral Readings: Non-religious Choices for a Personal Farewell
Choosing readings for a funeral is a way to add depth, emotion, and personalisation to the ceremony. When planning a humanist funeral, memorial, or celebration of life, non-religious (secular) readings...
