Take a Family Tree to Thanksgiving?

Rather than a side dish, I’ve taken a family tree to my family’s Thanksgiving celebration–several times.

May I suggest you do the same? Even if you are also bringing a pumpkin pie?

Thanksgiving and all the holidays traditionally involve bringing family members together.

What better time to collect and share data on something we all have in common: our ancestors?

Here are five reasons why the holidays are a great time to learn about your family’s history.

Stories

Everyone together provides an opportunity for many stories.

Thanksgiving is the big annual gathering for my side of the family.

Family members come from all over California, and sometimes elsewhere, to gather and eat a big meal.

We typically have 40-50 people gathering at my brother and sister-in-law‘s house; my sister-in-law is a consummate and dazzling hostess.

(That’s usually three or four big turkeys, for those counting). We frequently eat outdoors in southern California.

Among so many people, there are many stories.

Photos

If they bring photos, you can add them to your collection.

Last year I brought my laptop computer and portable scanner.

I’d contacted my cousins ahead of time, and they brought photos.

I scanned them, made copies, and sent them out when I got home.

Now, we all have copies.

Don’t forget to ask everyone–I got a surprising photo no one else had from my cousin’s ex-wife!

Information

Several times I’ve printed out a family tree and we’ve taped it to a wall for review.

Cousins, second cousins, third cousins, and outlaws can write in their birth dates or other pertinent information.

Examining the names higher up on the chart–the great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents–unleashes questions and stories.

We’ve added family members by marriage several times, and it’s helpful for the newcomers to see how they are related to everyone else.

(One year I had nametags listing three different ways guests were related to the patriarch and matriarch of our family–my grandparents. Very helpful).

Guesses

Sometimes we only know part of a story. Sharing it with family members can help put the pieces together.

I may know one fact, my cousin another.

How else will I find out if my grandmother really was the seventh child of the seventh child?

(And who told me that?)

Guesses can start rumors–did my grandfather really have a girlfriend or was that a joke?

(Look at that photo. He didn’t get married until he was 30. I think he looks younger in this photo and thus who cares if he had a girlfriend?)

Guesses can also help the genealogist working on the family tree. Sometimes it sends me off on a rabbit trail, but sometimes it’s the one piece that makes the other guesses clear.

Unity

Even when we disagree about politics, or art, or religion, or which part of Italy is the best to visit, we’re together and talking.

A family tree gives us something to focus on that transcends our differences and reminds us of what we have in common.

It’s been very helpful during some sticky conversations in my family.

And a whole lot of fun.

Why not bring an empty family tree to Thanksgiving or the one you’ve already got?

Here’s a template to help you get started.

Enjoy the meal–but enjoy your holiday together, more!

Tweetables

Why not bring a family tree to Thanksgiving? Click to Tweet

5 reasons to write a family tree this holiday season. Click to Tweet

Stories, photos, unity, guesses, and info this Thanksgiving. Click to Tweet