The glass greenhouses for mourning and celebrating that were in the center of Hoogeveen and Coevorden in December will return this year. In addition, the project is expanding further to Meppel. Although the organizations still have to make some arrangements, they are convinced that people can mourn and celebrate around Christmas.
Last year the two glass greenhouses exceeded the wildest expectations. During the first edition of Mourning and Celebrating in Coevorden, more than 1,300 people visited the greenhouse. In Hoogeveen it was even visited by 2,300 people.
“People were very happy and grateful that they could enter for free. Here they could give words to their mourning, light a candle for a deceased person or hang a ribbon with a memory in the Christmas tree. That helps. Moreover, you don’t do it alone. Grief connects,” Wilma Kapitein of the Hoogeveen organization explains the success.
“You have no idea in advance how many people will come to this, what to expect,” says Jolanda Jurjaanz van Rouwen en Vieren Coevorden. “But we have seen that there is a need for this, that people want to mourn and celebrate with us. Several visitors returned several times for a conversation or to light a candle.”
The idea for Mourning and Celebrating comes from Amsterdam. A glass greenhouse was installed there for the first time in 2021. Last year this initiative had already moved to 13 locations, this year there will be a greenhouse in 24 locations. Including in Meppel. A greenhouse will appear on the Groenmarkt there from 18 to 28 December.
“Last year we had a Christmas walk, now there will be the greenhouse,” says Jeanet van der Veen of Rouwen and Vieren Meppel. “One of our initiators visited the greenhouse in Hoogeveen last year and was immediately enthusiastic about it. I had also read about it in the news. It is a very nice initiative.”
The organization has already received the commitment from the municipality and the trade association has promised all cooperation. “We just have to get the finances in order, but we are confident in that,” said Van der Veen. “I think there is also a lot of enthusiasm for this in Meppel. Not only for the people of Meppel, but also for the Ukrainians and refugees on the refugee boat who live here. These are people who have left their country and left people behind.”
Because that is also grieving and celebrating. The initiative is not just about death. “Grief also means having health problems, lost contact within the family, bankruptcy or losing a job,” Kapitein explains. “In this society it is difficult to start talking about that. Then it is nice when you walk into the greenhouse and a volunteer asks you about it. Here you do not mourn alone. And when there is room for mourning, there is also a space underneath to celebrate what was there.”
That makes the greenhouse a place for everyone. Jurjaanz: “Because that greenhouse is for everyone and does not belong to anyone. It is made of glass, with Christmas trees around it, so you can see that you are not the only one. That makes it very beautiful.”