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The idea behind Celebration Day is very simple: once a year — on the last bank holiday Monday in May — we should have a dedicated opportunity to celebrate those who we love and miss: not to diminish the loss we feel, but to refresh and share our memories of them, and all that they meant to us. 

Celebration Day is for everyone — all ages, genders, cultures, religions and backgrounds. It is not an organisation and it does not fundraise, campaign, lobby or make profits. It has no political, commercial or religious links. You do not have to sign up, give your money or your data to participate.

There is no prescriptive way to mark Celebration Day. You might choose to share a meal and memories with others; to cook a favourite dish, or watch a special film; to organise a football match; or raise money for a particular charity. You might simply want to look out old photographs/bake a cake, and/or listen to an evocative piece of music — but, however you choose to remember, you will be creating new memories as you do so, and helping to ensure that those we love leave a living legacy. Like a thread woven into the tapestry of our lives, it connects the past not only with the present but also with the future.

You can come up with your own way to celebrate or visit our Get Involved page to find our more and get some inspiration…

The idea for Celebration Day originated in 2022 with a group of friends of different genders, cultures, religions and backgrounds.

Many cultures and countries around the world have a Day of the Dead. In a way this is part of that tradition. Celebration Day presents an opportunity to remember, reflect and honour the people who matter most to us, but are no longer with us. A celebration of life and love.

For some that it is about celebrating inspiring people from previous generations. So much of our art, music, literature, design and much more is drawn from and inspired by the past. Yet we spend little time honouring and celebrating that. For many other people, Celebration Day offers an opportunity to stay connected to people who we have known and or loved in our lifetimes. 

Death affects us all, but in a modern world it is hard to stay close or connected to those we have lost. All of us will know the pain of losing someone we love, a grief that is often compounded by other people’s embarrassment or discomfort at even referencing it. Yet that person’s importance in our life is not diminished by their death, but lives on — not only in our memories of them but in the music they loved; the things that made them laugh; their favourite foods, or hobbies, or places they spent time. Perhaps their wisdom or advice or example have inspired our own life choices; their love or support or friendship have helped to shape the people we have become.