My previous chronicle about the Day of the Dead (Nov. 1 and 2) got me to thinking. http://hubpages.com/_l6f64eotqm13/hub/Earthling_Chronicles_5

In these modern times when everything is rush, rush, rush, just how do we honor our departed loved ones?

No matter the size of your home, you can have a home altar either inside or outside of the house. If you have recently departed relatives, it is appropriate to place their photos on the altar. You may also want to add their favorite flowers, a momento such as jewelry or a rosary that belonged to them, baby shoes, etc. There are many devotional candles available. For safety reasons, I prefer the candles in tall glass containers. Tapers are too easy for kids and cats to tip over. If you don't want to use fire, you can use the faux candles with electric bulbs inside.

If you have no recently departed relatives, you can still honor your roots by putting things from you historical past on your altar. If you are Irish, there are many Celtic Knotwork items you can put on the altar. You can put tiny flags representing your country of origin or incense for that culture. The local Asian stores here carry incense from Japan, China, Viet Nam, Korea, etc. If you go to church, check your church gift store for appropriate items.

In this day of the Internet, many people have put up cyberspace altars; tribute pages to their loved ones featuring photos of their best moments, snap shots of happier times, or places where you can donate to their favorite charities.

You can also make a living tribute by planting a garden for someone. Or donate a tree to your local park. Your chamber of commerce should be able to point you in the right direction.

Some cities offer programs where you can dedicate a bench, a statue or some other civil item in the memory of a loved one.

Or, you can even name a star in the honor of your dearly departed. http://www.universalstarcouncil.com/indexgoogle.php?aff_id=2&aff_sub_id=1

You can also honor departed pets. Children understand the importance of this perhaps more than adults.

And perhaps the best way to honor the departed is to keep whatever they loved alive in your own life.

If they loved to paint you can paint in their honor. One woman took up knitting prayer shawls after her grandmother passed on, not wanting to see the family tradition fade away. If they loved to play an instrument, learn an instrument in their honor.

If they died of an illness, you can devote your energy, time or money to finding a cure.

And if you are already doing some or all of these things, good on you. Pass it on.