Adding Joyful Memories: Board Games & Card Games During Ash Scattering Experiences
At Farmstead Scattering Garden, we believe that honoring a loved one is as much about celebrating their life as it is about saying goodbye. Sharing stories, laughter, and even games can bring a sense of connection and healing during this emotional journey.
To make the experience even more meaningful, we can incorporate a beloved board or card games during the ash scattering. Whether it’s a game your loved one cherished or a family favorite, these shared moments can add joy and create lasting memories. Let’s explore how games like the 500 card game, Perfection, Jenga, Payday, and Monopoly can transform your day into a celebration of life.
Celebrating Life with Games
My family has always enjoyed games. We grew up playing every card game we could think of with my father's side of the family. My grandmother taught me at least eight different ways to play solitaire as she had with all of my older cousins, likely as a method of keeping us quiet and busy. We played Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Rummy, 500, Cribbage, Hearts, and Euchre.
On my mother's side, it was all about the board games. My Uncle Hugh and Aunt Kathy's house had a FANTASTIC board game cabinet that seemed 20 feet tall when I was young. It held every game I had ever heard about ranging from Candyland to Monopoly to Battleship to Operation and my cousin, Sarah's favorite, the Bride Game. When our two families got together there were six kids looking for entertainment. Board games at their house were a staple. Even as teenagers my brother and I played board games with our friends like Risk, Pay Day, Othello, Trivial Pursuit and Checkers. As I traversed life in my twenties, game nights included Charades and Pictionary.
Indeed, board and card games are one of my favorite past times. I always have a deck of cards with me in case we are waiting in a busy restaurant or we drag out a good game of Apples To Apples if we just want to unwind with the kids after a long week.
Card Games That Unite:
My personal favorite card game is 500 as discussed in a previous blog, and my family does know how to play it. However, their favorite is Phase 10. This year, I’m hoping to introduce them to Cribbage, a game tied to fond memories of boating trips with my dad’s family.
Card games offer something special: they can be played by two people or an entire group, and they cater to all levels of skill and experience. Whether it’s a quiet game of Solitaire or a lively family tournament, these games encourage bonding and friendly competition. At Farmstead Scattering Garden, card games can create a relaxed, joyous atmosphere that brings loved ones closer during this reflective time.
Anxiety-Inducing Games like Perfection or Jenga: A Burst of Fun and Focus
There’s something exhilarating about pulling out games like Perfection or Jenga. Perfection, with its fast-paced challenge of fitting shapes into their correct spots before the buzzer erupts, is as much about the thrill as it is about the inevitable laughter when the board pops and pieces fly. Jenga, though quieter, carries its own tension as players carefully pull blocks, holding their breath until the tower tumbles.
Both games are perfect metaphors for life’s fleeting moments and unpredictable challenges. They also offer bursts of shared excitement, as everyone erupts into laughter or groans when the game ends. Including games like these in an ash scattering ceremony reminds us to savor every second and celebrate the moments that make life unique.
Classic Fun with Monopoly, Chutes & Ladders, Candyland, and Payday
These classic games immediately bring up memories of my childhood. If my cousin, Sarah, wishes to have her ashes spread when she passes, no doubt we will have to find a vintage copy of the Bride Game to honor her. These games have survived decades of family milestones and have woven fond memories into a shared history among our family. We learned real estate from Monopoly, how to manage money from Payday, and managing life’s ups and downs from endless games of Chutes & Ladders or Candyland.
The Role of Games in the Healing Process
According to playing card manufacturer, Bicycle, 68% of Americans play card games. Boardgame statistics indicate that over fifteen percent of U.S. adults play boardgames daily, 37% play weekly, and 21% play monthly. Games are an integral part of how we connect with others. Laughter and shared activities create an environment of emotional healing, transforming somber occasions into moments of connection. Incorporating games into the ash scattering experience allows families to balance grief with joy, creating new memories that honor the life of their loved one.
How Do We Incorporate Games into Your Ash Scattering Event
It is important to think about which card or board game my family could play during the ash scattering experience that would bring a smile to your face and a flash of memories. We can take requests for almost any commercially available boardgame. In fact, we own quite a few mentioned above already ---maybe with the exception of the Bride Game. If we don't already know the card game, we can certainly get up to speed quickly. I was even in a Bridge league back in the day!
On the day of the ash scattering event, we will put a card table and chairs at the site. Whoever is at the farm on that day will come together for a rousing game experience. If you have requested a special written passage or song that should be played, we can do that prior to the game beginning.
Making Your Experience Unforgettable
When my time comes, I hope my ashes will be scattered in the front hayfield of our farm, surrounded by loved ones playing the games I’ve cherished throughout my life. I can imagine the field dotted with card tables, each filled with laughter and joy as my family and friends enjoy the games that brought us together.
Adding a card or board game to an ash scattering ceremony is a beautiful way to celebrate life. At Farmstead Scattering Garden, we’re committed to making your experience truly memorable. Contact us with your requests, and let us help you create a day that reflects the unique spirit of your loved one.
Behind every scattering is a life worth celebrating. Let’s honor it with joy, laughter, and the games that bring us closer together.