On Sunday 22 November 2026, Germany marks Totensonntag, the Sunday of the Dead, also called Eternity Sunday. Many people in other countries know a similar moment from All Saints or All Souls in early November. It is a day when families visit graves, light a candle or simply think quietly of the people they miss. If you are looking for a keepsake for a loved one who has passed, for yourself or for someone who is grieving, you will find personal ideas here. Some cost nothing, some take a little time. None of them is right for everyone. Take what feels right for you and leave the rest.
A quiet keepsake from a favourite photo. The preview is free, decide in your own time.
See a free previewWhat a day of remembrance means
In Protestant churches in Germany, Totensonntag is the last Sunday of the church year, one week before the first Sunday of Advent. In many services the names of those who died during the past year are read aloud. Even people who do not go to church often use the day as a fixed moment to remember. In Austria and in Catholic regions, All Saints on 1 November is more common. The idea behind it is the same: taking time on purpose for those who are no longer here.
Especially in the first year after a loss, this day can be hard. A small ritual or a keepsake can help give remembering a place.
Keepsakes for loved ones who have passed: ideas for home
A remembrance candle
A candle is one of the oldest ways to remember. Some people have a candle printed with a name and dates, others simply light a plain candle every evening in the week before the day of remembrance. On the day itself, it can be taken to the grave.
A small place of remembrance
A shelf or a sideboard can become a place that recalls the person: a photo, together with something that belonged to them. Perhaps their glasses, a scarf, a cup or a hymn book. This place does not have to stay forever. It can also be there just for the weeks until Christmas.
A memory book or photo book
A photo book with pictures from every stage of life often becomes a family treasure. It becomes even more personal when friends and relatives add short memories. A simple notebook in which everyone writes something serves the same purpose.
Writing down recipes, songs and sayings
Many people live on in small things: in grandma's apple cake, in dad's favourite song, in the phrases they always used. As a keepsake of a mother or father who has passed, these things are especially precious. Writing them down costs nothing, and you can pass them on to children and grandchildren.
A letter to the person who has died
A letter that nobody reads can still mean a lot. Write down what you would like to tell them, what you miss and what you are grateful for. Some place the letter at the grave, others keep it in a box with photos.
Beautiful ways to remember: outdoors and together
Planting a tree
A tree or a rose bush in the garden keeps growing over the years. In many regions there are also memorial forests or tree sponsorships. Ask your local council or forestry office what is possible where you live.
A walk to a familiar place
Go to a place the person loved: a bench by the lake, a café, a hiking trail. Alone or with family. Share stories along the way. Often this creates more closeness than any gift.
A donation in their name
If the person was connected to a cause, a club, an animal shelter or a hospice, a donation in their name can be a quiet way of remembering.
Grave decorations with meaning
Around this time of year, graves are often prepared for winter. An arrangement with their favourite flowers or a small object that suits the person makes the grave more personal. Please follow the rules of your cemetery.
A gift in memory of a loved one: when someone else is grieving
Perhaps you are not grieving yourself, but you want to show someone that you are thinking of them. A gift in memory of a loved one does not need big words. These often help:
- a card with your own memory of the person who has died, instead of a printed saying
- a photo the grieving person may not have seen yet
- an invitation for a meal or a walk on the day of remembrance, so nobody spends it alone
- practical help, for example with caring for the grave or sorting photos
The important thing is to expect nothing. Some people are glad right away, others need time. Both are fine.
A memorial picture on the wall
Some people wish for a picture that is more than a snapshot. A memorial picture can show a person the way the family wants to remember them. That can be an enlarged favourite photo in a frame, a drawing by a local artist, or a work of art created from one of your own photos.
At Arturell, pictures like this are created from your photos with AI, and every artwork is checked by a person before printing. For remembrance there are calm styles such as Starry Sky or Sunbeams. You see a free preview first and then decide in your own time whether you would like the picture on canvas. You can find out more on the In Loving MemoryIn Loving Memory page.
Whatever kind of picture you choose, a few tips help:
- Choose a photo in which the face is sharp and easy to see.
- It does not have to be the last photo. Many choose a picture from a time when the person was healthy and happy.
- Old paper photos can be photographed in daylight without glare, or scanned.
- Talk to the family first if the picture is meant for others.
Frequently asked questions
What can you keep as a keepsake of a loved one who has died?
Often it is small, personal things: an item of clothing, letters, a piece of jewellery, recipes or photos. Shirts or jumpers can be sewn into a cushion or a blanket. What matters is not the value but the connection to the person.
What do you give someone in memory of a loved one who has passed?
Something personal and calm: a card with your own memory, a candle, a framed photo, a memorial picture or simply time together. Many grieving people value it when the name of the person who died is spoken.
How can you mark a day of remembrance at home?
Many light a candle, look at photos together or cook a dish the person loved. Some go to a service or to the cemetery in the morning and spend the afternoon with family.
Is a memorial picture an appropriate gift?
That depends on the family. For some, a picture on the wall is a comfort, others need more distance. If you would like to give a memorial picture, gently ask beforehand whether the timing feels right.
