The holidays have a way of bringing everyone to mind—especially those we’ve loved and lost. If you’re missing your pet this season, you’re not alone. Whether they passed away months ago or years ago, the holidays can stir up memories and make their absence feel particularly present.
It could be when you’re decorating and remember how they used to bat at the ornaments. Or when you’re cooking and realize no one’s waiting hopefully by your feet for dropped scraps. It’s simply the quiet moments when the house is full of family, and you catch yourself looking for them in their favorite spot.
We understand this feeling deeply. After losing Baxter in October 2024, we knew the approaching holidays would be different. And while the pain of loss doesn’t disappear, we’ve learned that finding meaningful ways to honor our pets during the holidays can bring comfort and keep their memory alive in beautiful ways.
Your pet was family. They were part of your traditions, your daily rhythms, and your happiest moments. The holidays are the perfect time to celebrate that bond and ensure their memory remains woven into your family’s story.
Understanding Pet Loss Grief During the Holiday Season
Honoring your pet during the holidays isn’t about dwelling in sadness—it’s about acknowledging the love and joy they brought to your life. When we actively include our pets’ memories in our celebrations, we’re recognizing that their impact didn’t end with their passing.
For many of us, pets were present during our most cherished holiday moments. They were there for lazy Christmas mornings, Thanksgiving gatherings, and New Year’s celebrations. They watched us open gifts, sat beside us during family dinners, and brought warmth to winter evenings. Acknowledging their place in these traditions honors the role they played in making our holidays special.
Including your pet’s memory also helps other family members—especially children—understand that love doesn’t end with death. It teaches that we can hold onto happy memories while moving forward, and that grief and gratitude can coexist during the holidays.
Memorial Decorations: Visual Ways to Remember Your Pet
Visual reminders of your pet create lasting tributes that become part of your annual holiday traditions. These tangible memorials help keep their presence alive in your home during the most meaningful time of year.
Creating Pet Memorial Ornaments for Your Tree
One of the most popular ways to honor a pet during the holidays is with a special ornament. You might choose one featuring their photo, their name, or a symbol that reminds you of them. Every year when you decorate, you’ll have that moment of connection and remembrance.
Some families create an entire section of their tree dedicated to their pet. Jennifer from Seattle hangs her golden retriever Max’s collar alongside a photo ornament and small tennis ball ornaments—Max’s favorite toy. Another family we know includes their cat Luna’s favorite feather toy and a star ornament, since Luna loved watching lights twinkle.
You could also display their stocking alongside the family’s stockings—a visual reminder that they’re still part of your celebrations, just in a different way. There’s something comforting about seeing their name hanging with everyone else’s, acknowledging they’ll always be part of your family.
Using Candles to Honor a Deceased Pet
Candles have long been used to honor those we’ve lost, and they’re a beautiful way to include your pet in holiday gatherings. Consider lighting a special candle during holiday meals, family gatherings, or quiet moments when you’re feeling their absence most strongly.
You might choose a candle in their favorite color, find one with a pet-themed design, or even have a custom candle made with their name or photo. The simple act of lighting it creates a ritual of remembrance that can be repeated throughout the holiday season and in years to come. Some families light their memorial candle every evening throughout December, creating a daily moment of connection.
🕯️ Shop pet memorial candles here.
Displaying Pet Photos and Memory Boxes
Gather photos of your pet during past holidays and create a special display area in your home. Include pictures of them in costumes, opening presents, lounging by the tree, or simply being present during celebrations. You might arrange these in a dedicated frame collection or create a memory box that sits on a prominent shelf.
Sarah in Austin created a photo book for her 13-year-old beagle Charlie and keeps it on the coffee table throughout December—guests love looking through it and sharing their own pet stories. This becomes a treasure you can return to every holiday season, a tangible collection of the joy they brought to your celebrations.
🖼️ Shop pet memorial frames here.
Charitable Acts: Honoring Your Pet Through Giving
Many pet parents find deep meaning in turning their love into action. Charitable giving in your pet’s name creates a living legacy that helps other animals while keeping your pet’s memory alive.
Donating to Animal Shelters in Your Pet’s Memory
Consider donating to an animal shelter, rescue organization, or veterinary assistance program in your pet’s name. You could:
- Sponsor another animal’s adoption fees
- Donate supplies like food, blankets, and toys
- Contribute to medical care for pets in need
- Support programs that help families afford end-of-life care for their pets
- Fund spay/neuter programs or vaccination clinics
This creates a living legacy for your pet—their memory directly helping other animals find love, care, and homes. Some organizations will even send acknowledgment cards that you can share with family members, letting everyone know a donation was made in your pet’s honor.
Making Pet Treats to Donate to Rescues
If you used to make special treats for your pet during the holidays, consider continuing that tradition by making them for other pets as well. Bake their favorite dog biscuits or prepare their preferred cat treats, then donate them to a local shelter or give them to friends’ pets.
This keeps your holiday baking tradition alive while spreading love to animals who need it. Every time you make that recipe, you’ll think of your pet and the happiness those treats brought them. Rachel from Denver still makes the pumpkin dog treats her chocolate lab Moose loved, and delivers them to the local rescue where she volunteers—it helps her feel connected to Moose while helping other dogs.
Keeping Pet Memories Alive Through Storytelling
Sharing stories about your pet keeps their personality and spirit present during holiday gatherings. These verbal traditions help everyone who loved your pet feel connected to their memory.
Sharing Favorite Pet Stories at Holiday Gatherings
The holidays bring families together, making them the perfect time to share favorite stories about your pet. During dinner or while relaxing together, invite family members to share their best memories. What funny thing did your pet do last Christmas? What was their reaction to wrapping paper? How did they act during holiday visitors?
These stories keep your pet’s personality alive and allow everyone to participate in honoring them. You might laugh, you might cry, but you’ll definitely feel connected to the joy they brought into your life. Michael in Portland started a tradition in which each family member shares one favorite memory of their border collie, Sadie, at Christmas dinner—it’s become one of their most treasured holiday moments.
Recording and Preserving Pet Memories
Consider recording or writing down these stories to preserve them for the future. Create a shared document where family members can add memories throughout the season, or record audio of older relatives sharing their favorite moments with your pet. These recordings become priceless keepsakes that capture not just your pet’s story, but the love they inspired in everyone around them.
Including Your Pet in Holiday Traditions and Celebrations
Your pet was part of your family traditions, and finding ways to include their memory in ongoing celebrations helps maintain that connection year after year.
Adding Pets to Holiday Cards and Letters
Your pet was part of your family, and it’s perfectly appropriate to include them in your holiday greetings. Some families add a small tribute in their card, like “Remembering our sweet Cooper this holiday season” or “Celebrating the love Mittens brought to our lives.” Others include a favorite photo from past holidays alongside current family pictures.
This acknowledgment tells friends and family that your pet’s memory matters to you and invites others to remember them too. We’ve found that friends and family often respond with their own memories of your pet, which can be incredibly comforting during the holidays.
Continuing Your Pet’s Favorite Holiday Rituals
Did your pet create any funny holiday traditions? Maybe they always knocked ornaments off the tree, or they had a specific spot where they’d wait for dinner, or they’d howl along with holiday music. Consider lightheartedly acknowledging these traditions, even in their absence.
You might place an ornament in their favorite knocking spot with a smile, or play their favorite song and remember their quirky reactions. Tom in Chicago still places a stuffed toy mouse under the tree every year in the spot where his cat Whiskers would bat ornaments—it makes him smile every time he sees it.
Visiting Special Places Your Pet Loved
If your pet had a favorite park, beach, hiking trail, or outdoor spot, consider visiting during the holidays. Bring their photo, sit in their favorite area, and spend time remembering the walks you took together. Some families scatter flowers, leave a small stone, or enjoy the peaceful moment of connection.
This pilgrimage becomes a way to feel close to your pet in a place that held meaning for both of you. The fresh air and change of scenery can also provide a welcome break from the intensity of indoor holiday gatherings.
Creating Lasting Memorial Keepsakes and Art
Permanent memorial items provide comfort that extends beyond a single holiday season, becoming cherished possessions you can treasure for a lifetime.
Commissioning Custom Pet Memorial Art
The holidays are a time of gift-giving, and commissioning a piece of memorial art can be a meaningful gift to yourself or another family member. Consider having an artist create a custom portrait of your pet using photos from your favorite holiday moments together.
These portraits become keepsakes you can treasure forever, and they’re significant when received during the holiday season. Many families exchange these as gifts—a daughter might commission a portrait of the family dog for her parents, creating a touching holiday surprise that honors everyone’s shared love for their pet.
Choosing Pet Memorial Jewelry
Memorial jewelry that incorporates your pet’s ashes, fur, or paw print allows you to keep them close during holiday gatherings and beyond. Every time you wear that necklace or bracelet, you’ll feel your pet’s presence. These pieces come in countless styles, from subtle and elegant to bold statements of love.
💍 Shop pet memorial jewelry here.
How to Honor Your Pet with Children During the Holidays
Children often form deep bonds with pets, and the holidays can be an essential time to help them process grief and celebrate memories. Involving kids in honoring a pet’s memory teaches them healthy ways to handle loss while validating their feelings.
Consider letting children lead some of the memorial activities. They might want to create handmade ornaments, draw pictures of your pet to hang around the house, or choose which toys to donate to shelters in your pet’s name. Eight-year-old Emma helped her family create a memory jar where everyone writes down favorite moments with their dog Buddy throughout December—they read them together on Christmas Eve.
Let children share stories during the holiday dinner or lead a toast to your pet. This validates their grief while teaching them healthy ways to honor those they’ve loved. Kids often have beautiful, simple ways of remembering pets that can teach adults new perspectives on honoring memory.
Honoring Your Pet When Celebrating Alone
If you’re facing the holidays without both your pet and without family nearby, honoring your pet can provide comfort and purpose. Create your own meaningful rituals that feel right for you, without any pressure to meet others’ expectations.
You might light a candle and look through photos, cook their favorite treat recipe, or write them a letter expressing what they meant to you. Some people find comfort in visiting the place where their pet’s ashes are scattered or where their pet is buried. Others prefer staying home and watching their favorite videos of their pet.
Consider reaching out to pet loss support groups, many of which have special gatherings or online meetups during the holidays. You don’t have to navigate this season alone; connecting with others who understand pet loss can offer genuine comfort. We’ve partnered with several grief support communities that offer virtual meetings throughout the holiday season—sometimes just knowing others understand can make all the difference.
Memorial Ideas for Multi-Pet Households
If you have other pets at home, they may also be grieving or missing their companion. Include them in your remembrance by letting them sniff your departed pet’s belongings, keeping out certain toys they shared, or maintaining routines that involved both pets.
You might also create a family moment to acknowledge all pets—past and present. David in Tampa hangs ornaments for all three of his dogs on the tree—his current pups, Rocky and Bella, and his beloved German Shepherd Duke, who passed two years ago. This reinforces that every animal in your family matters and deserves to be remembered.
Some families notice their surviving pets seem to understand memorial moments. They might sit quietly when a candle is lit or gently sniff ornaments with a photo of their departed friend. Including living pets in these rituals can provide comfort for everyone in the household.
Adjusting Pet Memorial Traditions to Your Grief Journey
Some years, honoring your pet during the holidays flows naturally. Other years, especially early in grief or during tough seasons, even small acts of remembrance can feel overwhelming. That’s completely normal and nothing to feel guilty about.
If actively honoring your pet feels like too much this year, permit yourself to keep it simple. Maybe you only light a candle for a moment, or you acknowledge privately that you’re thinking of them. There’s no minimum requirement for how you honor your pet—what matters is that it feels right for where you are in your grief journey.
You might also find that certain days are easier than others. Perhaps you can manage a memorial ornament on the tree, but can’t handle looking through photos. Honor what you can handle, and be gentle with yourself about the rest. There’s no deadline for grief, and there’s no “correct” way to remember your pet during the holidays.
Building Annual Pet Memorial Traditions
The beautiful thing about creating ways to honor your pet during the holidays is that these rituals can continue for as long as they bring you comfort. Year after year, that special ornament will go on the tree. That candle will be lit. Those stories will be shared.
Over time, the sharp pain of loss typically softens into tender remembrance. What feels difficult this year might bring smiles in future years. The traditions you create now become part of your family’s holiday story—a story that includes your beloved pet exactly as it should.
Some families find that these honoring rituals become even more meaningful as years pass. They’re a constant thread connecting past celebrations to present ones, ensuring that pets who brought so much love are never forgotten. Lisa in Boston still hangs the ornament for her cat Patches, who passed away 15 years ago—seeing it each year brings warm memories rather than sharp grief, and she loves sharing Patches’ stories with newer family members who never met her.
Your Pet Deserves to Be Remembered
At Love, Baxter, we believe that our pets are family members who deserve to be remembered and celebrated, especially during meaningful times like the holidays. The love you shared with your pet doesn’t end when they pass away—it transforms and continues in different ways.
Honoring your pet during the holidays isn’t about staying stuck in grief. It’s about integrating their memory into your ongoing life in ways that feel authentic and comforting. It’s about saying, “You were here, you mattered, and you’re still part of our story.”
This holiday season, however you choose to honor your pet—whether with grand gestures or quiet moments—know that it’s exactly right. There’s no wrong way to remember and celebrate a pet who brought light into your life. The holidays are about love, gratitude, and connection, and your pet embodied all of those things.
They were lucky to have you, and you were fortunate to have them. That’s worth honoring, today and always.
Frequently Asked Questions About Honoring Your Pet During the Holidays
Q: Is it normal to feel worse about my pet’s death during the holidays, even if they passed away months or years ago?
A: Yes, it’s completely normal, and you’re far from alone in this experience. The holidays have a unique way of bringing grief back to the surface, even when you thought you’d reached a place of acceptance. This happens because our pets were deeply woven into our holiday traditions—they were there for Christmas mornings, Thanksgiving dinners, and cozy winter evenings by the fire. When the holidays arrive and they’re not there anymore, their absence becomes particularly noticeable in ways it might not be during regular daily life. You might be decorating and suddenly remember how your cat used to bat at ornaments, or you’re cooking and realize no one’s waiting hopefully by your feet for dropped scraps. These aren’t setbacks in your healing—they’re simply reminders of how much your pet meant to you and how integral they were to your life’s most meaningful moments. Grief doesn’t follow a linear path, and the holidays can bring what’s called “anniversary grief” or seasonal grief, where specific times of year trigger renewed feelings of loss. This is a natural part of loving someone deeply, whether that someone has two legs or four. Allow yourself to feel these emotions without judgment. Some years will be harder than others, and that’s okay. The fact that you still miss them during the holidays is a testament to the beautiful bond you shared.
Q: Will honoring my pet during the holidays make me sadder, or will it actually help with my grief?
A: We’ve walked this path with thousands of families, and what we’ve learned is that intentionally honoring your pet during the holidays typically brings more comfort than pain—though the experience is deeply personal and can vary from year to year. When you actively include your pet’s memory in your celebrations rather than trying to ignore or suppress it, you’re acknowledging that their love and presence mattered. This validation of your bond can be incredibly healing. Many families tell us that lighting a memorial candle, hanging a special ornament, or sharing favorite stories during holiday gatherings brings tears, yes, but also smiles, laughter, and a sense of connection that feels good. It transforms the grief from something you’re fighting against into something you’re moving through with intention. That said, some years—especially the first holiday season after loss—even small acts of remembrance can feel overwhelming, and that’s completely valid too. There’s no rule that says you must do anything specific. If looking at photos feels too raw this year, you don’t have to. If you can only manage lighting a candle for a brief moment, that’s enough. The key is listening to your own heart and doing what feels right for where you are in your grief journey. Many families find that what feels difficult in the first year becomes a cherished tradition in subsequent years, as the sharp pain of loss softens into tender remembrance.
Q: What are some simple, affordable ways to honor my pet during the holidays if I can’t afford expensive memorial items?
A: Honoring your pet meaningfully during the holidays has absolutely nothing to do with how much money you spend—it’s about the intention and love behind the gesture—some of the most touching tributes we’ve seen cost nothing at all. You can create a simple photo display using pictures you already have, printed at home or pulled up on a tablet placed in a special spot during holiday gatherings. Write your pet’s name on a piece of paper and hang it on your tree alongside other ornaments, or create a handmade ornament using craft supplies you have at home—children especially love this activity. Light a candle you already own during holiday meals or quiet moments when you’re missing them most; it doesn’t need to be a custom memorial candle to be meaningful. Share stories about your pet during family gatherings, which costs nothing but creates beautiful moments of connection and remembrance. Take a walk to your pet’s favorite park or spot and spend time there remembering happy moments together—fresh air and nature are free but incredibly healing. If you used to bake treats for your pet, make a batch and donate them to a local shelter in their memory, turning ingredients you already have into a living legacy. Write your pet a letter expressing what they meant to you and what you miss most during the holidays; this simple act can be profoundly cathartic. String together your favorite photos into a slideshow on your phone or computer, then watch it while drinking hot cocoa on a quiet evening. Keep your pet’s collar, favorite toy, or blanket displayed somewhere visible during December as a gentle reminder of their presence. The most meaningful traditions we’ve heard about often involved creativity and love rather than expensive purchases—because ultimately, honoring your pet is about keeping their memory alive in your heart, not about how much you spend.
Q: How do I handle well-meaning people who tell me I should “move on” or “just get another pet” during the holidays?
A: Hearing comments like this during an already emotional season can feel like salt in a wound, especially when you’re trying to honor your pet’s memory in meaningful ways. First, please know that these comments usually come from people who either haven’t experienced profound pet loss themselves or who are uncomfortable with grief and don’t know what to say. They genuinely think they’re being helpful, even though their words minimize your loss and the legitimate grief you’re experiencing. You have every right to feel hurt or frustrated by these comments, and you absolutely don’t need to pretend otherwise. How you respond depends on your relationship with the person and your emotional energy in that moment. For some people, a simple but firm response works: “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not ready for that, and I need people to respect where I am in my grief.” For others, especially those who might be receptive to understanding, you could explain: “My pet wasn’t replaceable—they were a unique family member I loved deeply, and I need time to honor that bond before I even think about opening my heart again.” And for people who repeatedly disrespect your grief despite gentle corrections, it’s perfectly acceptable to set boundaries: “I won’t be discussing this with you anymore,” or simply changing the subject and limiting future interactions. Remember that you don’t owe anyone explanations or justifications for your grief timeline. Some people are ready for another pet within weeks, while others need months or years, and both are entirely valid. The right time to welcome a new pet is when your heart tells you it’s ready—not when someone else thinks you should be “over it.” Surrounding yourself with people who understand pet loss can be incredibly valuable during the holidays. Consider connecting with pet loss support groups, either online or in person, where you’ll find people who truly get it and won’t question the depth of your grief or your desire to honor your pet’s memory during this special season.