Family Stories Month


As the holidays approach, families gather to celebrate together. In our mobile society, this may be the only time members meet in person. The reunion of loved ones is the perfect time to recount ancestral stories.


Ancient oral traditions of songs or poems commemorating important cultural events have nearly disappeared. The shared tales may have been true or imagined, but they provided a basis for memories.


There has been a resurgence of the study of genealogy, with supporting websites, such as Ancestry, to facilitate and store family trees. Valuable links include censuses, military records, birth/death/marriage/divorce documents, property deeds, and newspaper clippings. Some aficionados trace their lineage back multiple generations.


The definition of family has changed over time, from a clan in a cave, culture to culture, nation to nation. Its meaning has expanded to include other non-related individuals dear to one another. Perhaps this year, if you cannot travel to see your genetic family, you will celebrate “Friendsgiving.”


Regardless of who you consider family, sharing stories of important events, whether they contain crucial life milestones, tragedies, or comical moments, creates a special bond. These stories provide the heartwood, or soul, of the genetic structure.


Distant relatives may remain a mystery; we lose the link to their information once older persons die.


Who do you consider family? When you meet for a meal, a holiday, a wedding, or a funeral, take time to recount stories from the past. Do you have a relative who enjoys writing? Perhaps you can recruit them to document the family history before it vanishes.

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