DISCOVER WHO YOU ARE
Date: 22 December 2022
Photographer: Marcy Bachelor @Inspired Visions Photography
FAMILY, THE ROOTS OF THE TREE OF LIFE.
NATIONAL ROOTS DAY, December 23rd
Discover your own history, family heritage, and ancestry. It starts with YOU!
Today is National Roots Day. And every year, just two days before Christmas (and in some years during Hanukkah), families are inspired to dig into their family tree and uncover their roots.
During this time of year, especially on holidays, it is the perfect time to collect and gather information while families are coming together... sharing their stories, memories, and old photographs. As you are going through the albums, be sure to scan, copy and label the photos before the memories fade. These memories will include specific names, places, and dates.
In most families there is at least one family historian; it could be your parent, grandparent, great grandparent (if you are blessed to still have yours) an aunt, uncle or cousin. They would have already started your genealogy and will be more than willing to share with you.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In my own family, I am the family historian. Currently I have 4000+ names in my family tree!
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ROOTS DAY
1. Use hashtag #NationalRootsDay on your social media posts.
2. Look into your own family’s roots.
*note: at the end of this post I will list suggested sites to begin.
3. Share family stories with the younger generation; your children, niece/nephew etc.
4. Organize family photos.
5. Interview relatives, especially the oldest generation. Encourage them to share family history by asking specific questions. Document and record their answers. Be prepared with the information you want to learn about your family.
Below are suggested tools to use during this interview:
*Something to write in; a notebook, writing pad, loose paper etc.
*A pencil or pen
*A tablet, laptop, computer or even your smartphone
*Something to record audio or video
*Your list of questions
*Your family tree chart/pedigree (blank if you don't know anything or filled in with what you do know)
*Stories you may have heard about and cite source
*Photos, especially the ones you need help identifying unknown faces, places and dates etc.
TIP: If they have additional photos you do not have, ask to make extra copies and/or scan these photos. You can take a picture using your phone or bring a portable scanner with you. Having those photos may help you in further identifying mystery faces in your collection. As you learn about them, remember to connect them to their personal stories.
May preserving your family history become your life mission and to involve every generation, young and old on this journey with you. Share the battles and the victories you learn about your ancestors. In the times they lived what obstacles did they face? How did they overcome? Where did they live and HOW they lived? Document their stories. AND DON'T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR OWN!
It is often interesting to learn about the lives of our ancestors; where they came from, their struggles, their accomplishments. It is a combination of everyone on the family tree that helps to make the person we are today.
Suggested Websites:
www.familysearch.org FREE
To Hire a Professional: $
Join a Genealogy Group:
Facebook Genealogy Detectives
Inspired Source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-roots-day-december-23/
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