Tis HalloThanksMas Genealogy Season!
- Leslie Ryan
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
Happy last week of Family History Month! The weather has turned cold just in time for the Genealogy Season of holiday preparations and gift planning known as HalloThanksMas!
I call it "The Genealogy Season" because family gatherings are the best time to learn and share more of our Family Histories. This year, let's make a list of a few questions we can use as ice breakers to get the memories flowing. Where was grandma born? Where did grandpa go to school? Was it like it was for my father in law in a one-room school house for example?
This year I have prepared some family gifts to give at Thanksgiving for December decorating, and some for handing over on the big day. Plus, I just learned that Shutterfly doesn't just do photo greeting cards. You can design mugs, puzzles, blankets, etc. just by uploading a photo.
You could imprint the old family homestead, a marriage license, Bible records, census records, anything you have archived digitally for your family tree! Check it out here: https://www.shutterfly.com/t/create-your-own/?category=1083998,1107990,1176213,1287500,1287511
Family Tree Magazine had a cute idea for making coasters, if you are particularly crafty. Print and trim photos to fit on 4"x4" tiles (less than a dollar at box stores), smother them in Mod Podge, put some little felt pads on the bottoms, and ta-dah! A unique personalized gift which might commemorate that wedding day years ago. If you are not crafty, you could order these online too.
During this Genealogy Season, collect favorite recipes from everyone in advance, handwritten would be REALLY special, and copy or photograph them to put in a Family Cookbook. Add pictures of the cook if you like!
Most of the big genealogy sites have options for printing out your family tree. I like printing out a Family Group Sheet in Ancestry to show how the pieces fit together. Try it!
The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do this holiday season is make some time to talk and remember! And, please, take lots of pictures! Record some videos! You are the family historian. I have never heard in over twenty years of doing this, "Gee, I wish we had fewer pictures."
Keep your eyes open for DNA tests and membership sales! If you need some help with your tree or gift ideas, send me an email. We offer a FREE, NO OBLIGATION review of what you have, which equals a gift of 2 hours research minimum!
Wishing you all a Happy HallowThanksGenealogy Season,
Leslie Ryan
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