The table is set. The lights are up. Everyone is laughing, and still, you notice the empty chair.
The holidays have a way of bringing our loved ones in spirit closer to the surface. Their favorite song plays in a store. You find their handwriting on an old gift tag. You catch a scent that stops you in your tracks.
I’m Janet Rae Orth, an intuitive medium, spiritual coach, and energy healer. For 30 years, I’ve helped people connect with loved ones who have crossed over, and the holidays are when I hear these stories most.
If you’ve wondered whether it’s really them, I want you to know: very often, it is. Here are the most common signs from loved ones during the holidays, and how to welcome them into your celebration.
Why Loved Ones Feel Closer During the Holidays
Love is the bridge between worlds, and the holidays are full of it. The traditions, recipes, songs, and memories we share become familiar doorways our loved ones can use to reach us. As the year grows darker and quieter, many of us also become more open and reflective, which makes their signs easier to notice. (Read more in How to Connect With a Loved One Who Passed Away.)
8 Signs Your Loved One Is With You This Holiday Season
1. Their song plays at just the right moment
A holiday song they loved comes on the radio just as you’re thinking of them, or a carol you used to sing together plays in the grocery store. Timing is everything with signs from spirit.
2. A familiar scent
Their perfume or cologne, cigar smoke, pine, or the smell of their famous cookies, appearing out of nowhere. Scent is one of the most personal ways our loved ones let us know they’re near.
3. Cardinals and winter visitors
My grandmother loved cardinals, and when one appears at my window and taps on it, I know it’s her. Cardinals are especially vivid against winter snow, and many people feel a loved one’s presence when one shows up during the holidays. Notice any bird or animal that feels connected to your person.
4. Lights flicker or decorations move
Holiday lights blinking at a meaningful moment, an ornament that falls for no reason, or electronics behaving strangely. Spirit often works through energy and electricity.
5. Finding their ornament or keepsake at the right time
You open a box and their ornament is right on top, or you find a card in their handwriting just when you needed it.
6. Repeating numbers
Their birthday, anniversary, or a number that meant something to them keeps showing up on clocks, receipts, and license plates. (Learn more about angel numbers and what they mean.)
7. A visit in your dreams
Holiday dreams of loved ones can feel incredibly real: vivid, peaceful, and full of love. These are often visitation dreams, one of the clearest ways spirit connects with us.
8. A sudden feeling of warmth or presence
Sometimes there’s no sign you can point to, just a feeling. A warmth, a sense of being hugged, or the knowing that they’re standing right beside you. Trust that.
How to Invite Them Into Your Celebration
Light a candle for them at the table or by their photo.
Make their recipe and share the story behind it.
Hang their ornament first, or give it a special place on the tree.
Tell their stories. Laughing about them is a way of keeping them close.
Write them a letter about this past year, then sit quietly and notice what comes back to you.
Ask for a sign. Simply say, “Please show me you’re here,” and stay open to how it arrives.
When the Holidays Hurt
Grief doesn’t take a holiday. It’s okay if this season feels heavy, if you need to leave early, or if you’d rather keep things quiet this year. Missing someone deeply is a reflection of how deeply you love them. Be gentle with yourself, and if grief is feeling too heavy to carry alone, please reach out to a grief counselor or someone you trust.
Signs From Loved Ones FAQ
Do loved ones visit during the holidays? Many people feel their loved ones closest during the holidays. The love, traditions, and memories of this season make it easier for spirit to reach us, and easier for us to notice.
What does it mean to see a cardinal at Christmas? Many people believe cardinals are messengers from loved ones in spirit. If a cardinal appears when you’re thinking of someone you’ve lost, take it as a reminder that they’re near.
What if I don’t receive a sign? Not receiving a sign doesn’t mean they aren’t with you. Sometimes our grief is so loud it’s hard to hear them. Rest, be gentle with yourself, and stay open. Signs often come when we stop looking so hard.
Keep Exploring
7 Surprising Things People Want Their Loved Ones to Know After They Cross Over
Visitation Dreams: How to Recognize and Invite Spiritual Connection
Want to Hear From Them?
If you’re longing to connect with someone you love this season, you don’t have to wonder alone. In a Messages from Spirit reading, I connect with your loved ones and share what they want you to know: the reassurance, the memories, and often the small details only you would recognize.
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