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Although Valentine’s Day might seem like a commercialized holiday, its history is far more romantic. The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to mention it in print, nearly 650 years ago. For hundreds of years, this day has been a day to feast and celebrate romantic love.

Of course, for people who are missing a special someone, the holiday can be even more difficult. A night spent together eating a box of chocolates and watching a rom-com may feel empty without a loved one there to share in it. But people should know that they are not alone, and they can find ways to bring their loved ones back into the celebrations. These eight ideas may help families to remember those they have lost, as well as bringing love back to the holiday.

From ancient pictographs on cave walls to stone carvings on the Serengeti Plains, Roman cameos to Egyptian tombs, humans have used engraving to leave their mark for millennia. Cultures around the world have engraved words and images into hard surfaces in order to create memorials to honor the gods, to offer respect to leaders and, especially, to remember loved ones who have passed.

Over the years, engraving technology has evolved by leaps and bounds. Modern memorials for loved ones are more beautiful than ever. Engraving may have started as the practice of scratching into stone with a rock wedge, then transformed into using cutting tools to etch metal... but modern engraving employs cutting-edge modern methods — like 3D crystal glass subsurface engraving — to deliver stunning, artistic memorials. 

Today's engraving technology offers a beautiful way to honor and remember those who've passed on in the form of a stunning heirloom.

Set me free in the wilderness,

Where my spirit soars among the clouds,

Where my heart breaks loose from its chains,

And Nature is a balm for my soul.

Turn me loose to wander the mountains and valleys

With sun-dappled wildflowers and sparkling brooks,

Where my thoughts resonate in the deep silence,

Days and nights are measured by the sun and the moon,

And where I feel eternally at home.

Here at In The Light Urns, we’ve helped and walked with countless people over the years who enter into the difficult moment in their life of losing a loved one and mourning. Death is a part of life that is inevitable, yet when that time arrives for a loved one, the pain and shock are unforgettable and seemingly unbearable. Every single day, for the past two decades, it has been our mission to accompany those experiencing overwhelming loss.

When choosing the material for a memorial, memento, award or decorative piece, glass almost always wins out over wood or metal. It’s bright, fresh, clean and long-lasting, and when it catches the light it glitters and sparkles like nothing else.

Engraving glass with words and date or a picture, turns it from something attractive into a unique piece of work that will help you remember a key moment or an important person or achievement. There are many different types of glass and several ways to engrave it. 

This guide will help you decide which will best meet your needs.

Glass comes in many types and an almost limitless variety of shapes. Glass composition affects both appearance and cost. Only by understanding the differences can you pick the type and style that’s right for your purpose or application. Again, this guide will help you choose.

It also matters who does the engraving. Some engravers can only do surface engraving. Others may claim

Subsurface engraved crystal glass is being used more frequently for awards, trophies, and displays of recognition. These beautiful mementos provide an elegant and lasting way to not only preserve a moment or picture, but to do it in a way that’s both tasteful and eye-catching.

Honoring and memorializing a loved one in crystal glass is an increasingly popular application of 3D subsurface engraving. A beautiful memorial crystal with a 3D picture engraved inside is a truly special way to celebrate those we love.

The holidays are a time of gathering, for families and friends to get together. It is a perfect opportunity to share a meal, recount old stories, exchange gifts or engage in religious ceremonies. For many, the holidays can be touched with a feeling that is bittersweet, as they remember their loved ones who enjoyed the holiday and are no longer here to participate.

As the year comes to a close, it is natural to think about everything that has happened since the last holiday season. Good and bad happens to everyone, and loss is something that is felt by all. Honoring the loss of grieving families, and helping them to connect with loved ones is an important part of the season, too. This holiday season, it is a wonderful chance to remember a loved one and comfort others in their journey of grief. These 10 memorial gift ideas are perfect for the season and the people who need that comfort the most.