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A Bolton venue known for hosting weddings with llamas has launched its first 'celebration of life' aimed at changing the way people think about funerals. The Wellbeing Farm in Edgworth launched the new service at the B-Corp certified venue on Thursday, April 3. The venue's founder, Celia Gaze, is encouraging people to talk more about death and 'embrace it as an opportunity to celebrate a person’s life instead of skirting the subject'.
(Image: Pavel Szylobryt) Ms Gaze said: "This idea came from my experience in Peru, where I saw a funeral where people were celebrating in the graveyard. "Everyone wore colourful clothes, danced, listened to music , and enjoyed tasty food. "I was struck by how happy everyone was.
"In contrast, UK funerals are often sad events with black attire and soft music, where laughter is rare. "In many cultures, the day you die is seen as the most important day of your life." Ms Gaze said in many parts of the world, death is a transition celebrated with colourful, elaborate funerals.
The Wellbeing Farm (Image: Supplied) She questioned why the UK, a nation that celebrates weddings and birthdays with joy, holds back from celebrating a life when it ends. Yet, in the UK, people are still uneasy about feeling joy at a funeral. For those wanting to book a celebration of life, information can be found on The Wellbeing Farm's website.
Ms Gaze questions why we have a 'stiff upper lip' and why Victorian customs influence us. She said: "So why aren’t we celebrating someone’s life fully? "And more importantly, what’s stopping us from starting now? "At The Wellbeing Farm, we’re changing the traditional funeral model and creating room for bold and beautiful Celebrations of Life. "Death deserves more than silence; it deserves to be meaningful.
" The Wellbeing Farm's celebrations of life are designed to be personal, eco-friendly, and full of joy, gratitude, sadness, and love all at once. They aim to respect the environment and follow the B-Corp ethos of the farm..
