In a society where death is an inevitable part of life, a recent poll has highlighted a surprising reluctance among Britons to openly discuss this universal topic. The survey coincided with the celebration of Celebration Day, a British initiative inspired by Mexico's vibrant Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which has been observed annually since 2022 on a designated day in May. The poll revealed that over 25% of respondents feel uncomfortable addressing the subject of death, while nearly one-third expressed feelings of guilt when sharing their grief, fearing they might burden others with their emotions.

This year's Celebration Day featured contributions from a variety of well-known figures, including actor and comedian Stephen Mangan, actress and director Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and actor Nathaniel Parker, who recorded heartfelt poems at the iconic Abbey Road studios. These poems served as tributes to their loved ones and individuals who have inspired them throughout their lives.

Helena Bonham Carter, another prominent figure involved in the initiative, poignantly remarked, “I love how we’re a patchwork of every single person we’ve met, and every single person we’ve loved.” She emphasized that even after death, those individuals remain woven into the fabric of our lives and consciousness. “In this crazy world, we need to have permission to stop—a day in which we can invoke them, remember them, and let them live again through us,” she added, underlining the personal and communal significance of the occasion.

However, not everyone shares the enthusiasm for this new addition to the already packed calendar of awareness days. Critics have raised concerns about the commercialization of such an intimate subject, particularly regarding the marketing strategies, including hashtags and merchandise, that often accompany awareness campaigns. Writer Emma Beddington expressed her discomfort in a piece for the Guardian, stating that the idea of purchasing a Celebration Day badge felt cringeworthy. She argued that the initiative seemed overly generic and might detract from the personal nature of mourning. “If the spirit moves you to celebrate … wonderful,” she wrote, “But if it doesn’t, no one needs a hashtag to celebrate the dead, how and whenever they like.”

Despite such criticisms, the organizers of Celebration Day maintain that the event's core purpose transcends commercial interests; it aims to normalize grief and encourage open discussions about both death and remembrance. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel, who hosts the Therapy Works podcast, articulated the essence of the celebration, stating, “We often speak about forgetting and moving on, and I really want to bang the drum that Celebration Day is about remembering and connecting and having a special day to honor the memories.” The conversation surrounding Celebration Day continues to evolve, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive space where individuals can grieve and connect with their past in a meaningful way.