Through poetry, verse, music and other readings, we remember our children who have died, acknowledging our love for them and the pain we feel, especially at this time of year with the festivities of Christmas all around us. Should you feel unable to read your item or unable to attend, there are always other parents available who are willing to read for you. The service is conducted solely by bereaved parents and is very meaningful and moving. Central to the evening is the lighting of a candle for each of our children who have died. The candles and cards are ours to take home.
All family members are welcome to attend and the service is followed by a shared supper.
Although our Founder is a clergyman, and some Chapters use donated church facilities, The Compassionate Friends has no religious affiliation. In 1997 TCF Canada started an imaginative new ceremony for Christmas, the lighting of candles worldwide on the second Sunday in December in remembrance of all our children who have died. The idea is that candles are lit at 7pm in every time zone and because this will be at different times around the world, it will mean that a chain of candlelight will flicker round the world, encircling the earth on that day. As candles burn down in one time zone, it becomes 7pm in another, creating a virtual 24 hour memorial, joining us all in the warmth of friendship and in remembrance of our children who have died. As ICMD falls on different days each year the Committee have decided to hold our family picnic on the Sunday closest to that date.