Honoring Your Loved One’s Life with Light, Love, and Remembrance
Each December, on Worldwide Candle Lighting Day,we come together to honor and remember the lives of children and loved ones gone too soon. This annual event is a meaningful opportunity for families to gather in community, light candles in memory, and share space with others who understand the weight of grief.
About the Event
The Candle Lighting Ceremony is held on the second Sunday of December each year, in observance of Worldwide Candle Lighting Day—a day when candles are lit across the globe to honor children who have died. At Texas Children’s Hospital, this event is open to families who have experienced the death of a child in our hospital system within the past year.
We offer both in-person and virtual options for attending:
In-person: The ceremony is held at a venue in Houston. Families who attend in person will be able to:
Light a candle in honor of their loved one
Participate in memory-making activities
Connect with other families and community members
Hear stories, reflections, and messages of remembrance from hospital staff and bereaved parents
Take home keepsakes created during the event
Virtual attendance: Families who join online will receive a link to watch the ceremony and light their candle at home during the event. We encourage families to set up a special space with a photo or memento of their loved one if they are attending from afar.
Invitations
Invitations are sent by email in the fall to families who have experienced a death within the Texas Children’s Hospital system in the past year. If you have questions about this event or believe you should have received an invitation, please contact us at GriefSupport@texaschildrens.org.
We are honored to walk alongside you during this difficult season and to help keep the memory of your child present and cherished.