Last night saw the annual ‘Burning the Clocks’ parade in Brighton to mark the winter solstice. Here at Arka we are very proud to have sponsored the event for the second year running and we feel so honoured to have been part of such a special evening.

Held on the shortest day of the year, this growing tradition marks the passing of time by ‘burning the clocks’ and welcoming in the new sun. We at Arka provide a service to support people who are going through some of their darkest days they will ever experience so the symbolism of this event is very meaningful for us.

For anyone who hasn’t attended the parade before, it is a truly magnificent sight: a wonderful collection of local folk carrying handmade paper lanterns through the streets of Brighton, down to the beach where all of the lanterns are then burnt in a bonfire.  The community spirit is what makes this event so special, it is a coming together of so many different groups.  Street performers, dancers, school children, community groups all making their way down the narrow lanes to the beat of multiple samba bands. And of course it attracts thousands of spectators too – people lining the streets to watch the ‘clocks’ being transported on their journeys.

Earlier on in December we offered the opportunity to anyone who has suffered a loss of a loved one in the last year to join us in a lantern making workshop. The lovely people at Same Sky who organise the whole event came to lead the workshop and guided the attendees in the making of their lanterns. It gave these people the chance to make a memorial for their loved one, that they could then carry in the parade. A film crew from ITV news attended the workshop and we were featured on the evening news bulletin. See the clip below:

Last night, the attendees who made their lanterns with us all came together in unity and carried their memorial lanterns at the front of the parade. They honoured the memory of their friend or family member with beautiful lanterns adorned with names, images and messages. And finally at the end of our walk, the lanterns were passed down a line of hands onto the beach to the bonfire.  The names of their lost loved ones along with a message to send them on their way were then read out over loud speakers.

Here are a few beautiful words from Aimee Day, who attended the lantern workshop and who carried her memorial lantern in honour of her beloved Gran who passed away earlier this year:

“To be given the opportunity to take part in this special celebration was a real gift. The workshop gave me the time to reflect on all the funny things that meant so much to gran and I took the time to immerse myself in the memory and thought of her. The celebration itself was incredible a real celebration of light and life. I felt that this was a special ceremony just for me and gran. The lantern covered in things that reminded me of the love we shared and the things that symbolised her to me, the sunshine, the flowers, cups of tea, the birds and love. Her funeral was a time for the family to come together and for us to formally send her off but last night felt like it was the first time I had been able to say goodbye to her how I wanted to. With a few words read out over the tannoy, my love for her going up in bright burning light with a momentus firework display following the calling of her name. Thank you so much for giving me this gift Arka, you have managed it once again, a beautiful offering that got it just right. Perfect. Thank you xxx”

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and to Same Sky for organising such a beautiful event. Burning the clocks relies on crowd support to make sure the event happens every year. Visit the Same Sky website to see how you can donate.

 

We are so proud to announce that we are sponsoring the Burning of the Clocks 2017! This is our second year and after we had such a wonderful and poignant evening last year we couldn’t say no. It’s a brilliant evening, uplifting, hauntingly beautiful. If someone you love has died in the last year and you want to commemorate this with us then please follow this link to the Same Sky website and apply for one of our 25 lantern places we have available. http://www.samesky.co.uk/…/burning-t…/arka-original-funerals. You will be invited to the lantern workshop on 16th December 11 – 2pm and then we will meet to walk together on the 21st.

 

We were thrilled to receive another wonderful accolade at the 2017 Good Funeral Awards. This time it was for Best Care of the Deceased. What does this mean? We are very proud that our practice of being open and honest about the care of the deceased has been acknowledged. At Arka we welcome people to come in and help wash, dress and prepare the person for their funeral, this is such a right of passage for someone, the last thing you can do for someone. You’ve loved this person so much, why wouldn’t you be able to do this for them if you want to. It’s all about choice but when people want to know what’s happened to someone since they last saw them then being open about these details is the only way. We don’t embalm, we treat people with ultimate respect and care for them right up until the funeral. Thank you Good Funeral Awards, we are honoured to get this award.

 

We are often asked about prepaid funeral plans, we normally approach with caution and a high amount of scepticism about the funeral plan industry, we just want people to enter a plan with their eyes open. Here is a recent BBC article about this….

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40518578

We were honoured to work with Linda Pressly from the BBC World Service, the programme is titled ‘Giving Death Back to the People’

Please click here to listen to the full episode.

There’s also an accompanying written piece on the BBC website. This is the account from Gilli, of her experience after the death of her brave, beautiful daughter Niamh.

Please click here to read the full written article.

At Arka we don’t often blow our own trumpet but it’s really lovely when someone else does!  Especially when it’s the fantastic team at the Good Funeral Guide. Please see our latest review from the GFG from our recent inspection. If you are one of our customers who would like to add your comment to our GFG page then please do feel free.

“ARKA is one of Britain’s most distinctive, forward-looking and intelligent funeral directors, an influential agent of change.  These people are undertakers with a difference, for sure, and it’s not about being different for the sake of it; it’s about empowering their customers, while also doing everything they do as well as they possibly can.  You may be surprised to see so many women in this business, but don’t be distracted by that: their sensitivity rests on a base of real strength.  Cara and her team are dedicated to supporting you to create a send-off that is rich and right and real – and transformative of grief.”

To read the full review please click here.

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Cara Mair has been taking part in the development of a new programme on BBC Radio 4. The programme looks at what happens to our bodies after death and looks to reassure people that this isn’t something to be afraid of. In earlier times most families would keep the person at home and involve the wider community in the care and preservation of the body until it would be buried or cremated. This fascinating series of programmes starts on November 30th at 8pm but Cara’s edition will be on 14th December all details can be found at the following address. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084ys5v

Please tune in if you have time!

Remembrance Lanterns: We are offering 25 Memorial Lanterns to those in our community who have lost a loved one during the past year.

Decorate a lantern in their memory, join the parade, watch the fire show from the beach front and hear the name of your loved one read as the lanterns burn, then join us for the official after show event at Patterns.

Arka Original Funerals want to give something back to the Brighton Community, this offer is open to anyone who has been bereaved during 2016. If you would like to take part and name a lantern please get in touch! You will just need to write a letter to Imke at Arka Original Funerals, 39 – 41 Surrey Street, Brighton, BN1 3PB saying why you would like to take part and create a lantern for your loved one.