Through the years, people have been offering flowers and prayers for their dearly departed. Those actions are considered time-old traditions for paying tribute. Good as those actions are, they can be tweaked to form even better ways to praise your dead relatives. Mix some creativity with the interests of your departed loved ones and you can form tastefully ingenious ways of giving homage.

Of course, necessary rites such as prayer services and the offering of gifts won’t be forgone. The creative means of paying homage will act as a prelude to the formal ceremonies. If that’s not possible, you can relegate your plans after the ceremony. Just ask permission from your relatives or the loved ones of dead individual. Remember, you are not only mourning the death of your loved ones every All Saints Day. You are also celebrating the legacy that the person made when he or she was still living. Here are 11 creative ways of paying homage during the first of November.

1. Poetry Reading – Not many things are as intimate as a well-written poem. A poem focuses on specific details, which later piece-up to form a beautiful montage. That montage can pertain to the life or the wishes of a departed loved one. You can ask your family and some friends to write poems about the deceased person. Collect the poems then ask each one to read is poem during the formal ceremony. Each person will recite his or her poem in front, give its interpretation, then offer a token to the deceased loved one.

2. Offering of Symbolic Gifts – Symbolisms, by definition, are creative representations of things, situations or ideas. They can enhance the things they represent, including people. During the first of November, you and your loved ones can offer presents that signify details pertaining to the life of a deceased friend, lover or relative. For instance, you can offer the CD of your loved one’s favorite artist or his/her favorite accessory. Ask the cemetery if they can look after the gifts. If that’s not possible, you can store, bury or burn the items. Make sure that you give the proper blessing before doing anything with them.

3. Burning Messages – Many people, who have lost friends and family, adore the thought of speaking with their dead loved ones. Give yourself a chance to convey your regrets, wishes and other sentiments left unsaid by writing your dead a message. Ask all of the attendants to write their’s as well. When everyone has written one, ask a religious minister to bless the messages. He will then burn them on an altar, as a sign that the written sentiments will be received by your deceased loved one.

4. Musical Celebration – A good after-party, in memory of your loved ones, is organizing a musical celebration. Hire several popular bands/artists and ask them to perform songs that your late friend or family member liked. Request them to also perform songs that represented portions of the your late loved one’s life. To make the celebration even more special, you can perform songs that you personally dedicate to your dead friend or family member. The other attendants will surely have tearful recollections during the celebration.

5. Dedication Board – Stick a picture of your departed loved one on a large cardboard sheet then have it framed. Pass it to all the attendants and have them write their personal messages for the dead person. Once everyone has written his or her message, display the dedication board near the grave. Imagine the way you feel whenever you receive birthday cards filled with dedications from your friends or colleagues. That’s exactly how your loved one feels as he or she reads all of the dedications from heaven.

6. The Telling of Tales – The simplest of methods can sometimes generate the most significant results. Setup a stage near the grave. When the stage is ready, go in front and tell several tales on how the person made an impact on your life. Encourage the other attendees to tell their own accounts right after you tell yours. Soon, everyone will be celebrating the life of your dearly departed. Imagine how he or she must be smiling in heaven during such an event. Top the event by asking everyone to recite their own farewell messages in front.

7. Role-Playing – After visiting the cemetery, you can all converge at a place that is memorable to you and your dead friend. Do the activities that you used to do when your friend was still around. Act that he or she is still alive, while you do some merry-making. At the heart of your role playing, offer drinks and toasts to your deceased friend. Tearful recollections will surely follow after. In the end, you and your friends will be bonded further, thanks to the memories of your late buddy.

8. Create a Tribute Website – A good way to keep the memory of a loved one alive is to create a website. Make the layout according to your deceased loved one’s interests. Include sections like memorabilia, videos, music, photos, quotes and a biography composed of other people’s stories. Ask everyone to make stories, collect videos and snapshots, and post quotes regarding the late personality. When the site is up, the memory of your dead loved one will now live on. (More tips on how to make a website)

9. Write a Biography – If you are adept at writing, you might as well recreate the life of your deceased loved one from your point of view. Specify all of the person’s interests, good deeds and issues. Don’t forget to insert your opinions regarding each detail, so the tale will be more dramatic and relatable. When you finish the biography, let your family and friends read it. You can then have it published, which in the end, will immortalize your late loved one.

10. Food and Donations – One of the burial rites of the Chinese is to collect food and donations from the family and friends of the dead person. The money will be wrapped in paper then burned. As for the food, they will be placed on an altar. The burned cash is said to reach its deceased recipient, while the food and the altar are signs of respect. Given the sheer beauty and significance possessed by this tribute, you can apply it whenever you visit your dead every All Saints Day. They will surely appreciate your efforts from the afterlife. (Learn how to get donations)

11. Paper Boat Festival – Write a sentimental message to your dead loved one. Make it conversational, so it will have a personal touch. After writing, fold the paper into a paper boat. Ask some of your friends and relatives to do the same. When you have collected all the boats, set them on a beautiful lake or river. Try to communicate with your deceased loved one through a simple prayer, then release the paper boats altogether. If you’re lucky, your loved one just might receive the messages from the heavens.

Your way of paying tribute to your dead loved ones may not really be grand or spectacular. It should simply have an honest message of thanks and goodwill. If you plan to create something extra special, your efforts will be rewarded by good karma coming from your dead loved ones, who are always watching over you. Better make your means of paying homage creative. They might be getting tired of the usual stuff they get every All Saints Day.

* Paying respect to the dead shows highly of any society. There are many unique ways to pay homage but if you are a craftsman, you may want to learn how to make a coffin yourself for your departed loved ones. Or better yet you could learn how to contact your dearly departed.