These grief during the holidays quotes will serve as a warm blanket of comfort for everyone suffering through pain at any point in their lives.
Facing the loss of a loved one is already hard enough. So, just imagine how much more painful it is to go through holidays knowing you’re missing a part of yourself.
The pain might be multiplied a thousandfold, and for some, it might cause them to turn their backs away from the holiday celebrations. However, think about it; would your loved ones want you to suffer through these joyful moments of life?
Death is a part of life, but this fact doesn’t make it any easier for anyone to cope with loss and grief. Even so, everyone must learn to live through and rise above the pain.
So, to help you jumpstart your journey, check out this collection of grief during the holidays quotes. We’ve got the most relatable, comforting, and encouraging words of wisdom for everyone.
And make sure to read these let your light shine quotes and spiritual universe quotes.
Most Moving Grief During the Holidays Quotes
1. “Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance—each beautiful, unique, and gone too soon.” – Deborah Whipp
2. “Let your holiday grief be what it is. And let yourself—your new, grieving self—be who you are.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
3. “During the holidays, you miss your loved ones the most. But it also gives you the time to cope with your loss in every way possible.” – Anonymous
4. “A wonderful thing about the holidays is that they encourage us to remember those we love. Even though it may hurt to remember, don’t forget that remembering the past makes hoping for the future possible.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
5. “Accept your unique thoughts and feelings this holiday season. Find ways to mourn that work for you.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
6. “The holiest of holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the secret anniversaries of the heart.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
7. “If the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak, you were the one who has passed away, and your loved one is here—what would you want them to do? Would you want them to be miserable and depressed over the holidays? No, I don’t think so. You would want them to be happy, begin to put their lives back together and enjoy this time of the year once again. So be still and listen to your heart; you’ll know what to do from there.” – Richard Kauffman
8. “As mourners, we need the love and understanding of others if we are to heal. When your friends and family reach out to you during the holidays, accept their support. Let them spend time with you and take care of you. You need their help, and they need to give it.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
9. “It’s so curious: one can resist tears and ‘behave’ very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer, and everything collapses.” – Collette
10. “Be open to the possibility of happiness during the holidays. And if and when you do feel glimpses of happiness, do so without guilt. You are still alive, and finding happiness means you are carrying on with your life’s purpose.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
Relatable Quotes About Grief During the Holidays to Comfort You
11. “They say time heals everything. But the holidays in between bring everything back to square one.” – Anonymous
12. “They are happy holidays for some, but not happy holidays for all. We remember those who are not here this holiday season.” – David Kessler
13. “Above all, mourning is a spiritual journey of the heart and soul. And the holidays are a spiritual time of year. Together, the two demand your spiritual time and attention.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
14. “I want you to know that you can find continued meaning in the holidays and in life. You can continue to live and love fully. You must grieve, but you can also celebrate.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
15. “My life was suddenly divided into before and after, and there was no going back to before. But then I realized I had a choice to live the after. I had to decide.” – Brenda Neal
16. “There are no quick fixes to grief. No easy answers. Every expression of grief that wants to be felt and honored and given its space must be allowed in order to heal.” – Tom Zuba
17. “My heart is aching; the grief is so strong. But I am making my way through this Thanksgiving with your memories close to my heart.” – Anonymous
18. “I see you in the lights on the tree and the ornaments we used to hang each year. I hear you in the carols we loved to listen to together. I miss you so much this year, but I feel you all around.” – Anonymous
19. “Like freshly fallen snow, my tears fall as a reminder of those I miss in Heaven this holiday season.” – Anonymous
20. “Part of your struggle with the holidays will likely involve trying to find ongoing meaning in them. It may seem like the holidays are meaningless this year. Trust that in time and through the work of mourning, you will find meaning in the holidays again.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
Quotes for Those Grieving During the Holidays
21. “During your time of grief, the very rituals of the holidays can help you survive them.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
22. “Do whatever it takes to cope with the void your loved one left behind. Enjoy the holidays. You deserve it.” – Anonymous
23. “To feel such a great loss means I was lucky enough to share a great love—on Christmas Day and every day.” – Anonymous
24. “Experiencing moments of happiness and joy during the holidays does not mean you didn’t deeply love the person who died. It merely means that you are alive and can continue to live.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
25. “At the rising sun and at its going down, we remember them. At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them. At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them. At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them. At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn, we remember them. At the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them. As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as we remember them.” – Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer
Which Quote Brought Your Heart the Most Comfort?
Facing death can cripple us with pain. Sometimes, we’d even feel like nothing is left to live for.
Given this train of thought, some lose all and any motivation to celebrate the holidays. However, we should always keep in mind that our loved ones would never want us to wallow in our grief.
Instead, they want us to keep living our lives filled with joy. This, however, doesn’t mean that we should forget about our loved ones who have passed away; we should keep them stored in our memories.
We should remember all the happy days we’ve had with them and go forth celebrating holidays, knowing they are in a much better place with no sadness and pain. It’s hard to live with this mindset, but it’s the only way we can honor their memory and the life they’ve lived.
Continuing to live doesn’t mean forgetting. So, learn to live with the pain, move past your grief, and wake up each day remembering your loved ones on a positive note!
Holidays would truly not be the same without them, but as long as we remember them fondly, all will turn out well. With that, we hope the quotes we’ve compiled above were able to provide you with some sort of encouragement or comfort for the holidays and celebrations you’re about to face.
