Search Results for: blog the history of traditions

More Thankful Traditions

Gratitude is one of the attributes of happy people, and I try to cultivate it in myself and in my family. I don’t cultivate it because I want to be better than others. I just cultivate it because it makes me feel good to note all of the things that I can be thankful for. Even when the day is hard, it is easy to be thankful. I am thankful for my health. Yesterday I had severe back pain that was so bad that I couldn’t sit down. I was very grouchy. Yet at the end of the day when … Continue reading →

Tasty Traditions – Cookies and Family History

No matter what holiday your family is celebrating this time of year, one thing is probably a given. There are likely to be many sweet treats on your table that are not usually there throughout the year. Did you know that if you have European ancestors, they may have started baking Christmas cookies as far back in time as the 1500’s? Sweet treats have long been associated with celebrations throughout the year, as the ingredients used to make them like sugar and spices were too expensive for most people to have on hand all year long. The array of cookies, … Continue reading →

Tasty Traditions – Holiday Baking

Since I love to bake, it is not surprising that I often find myself thinking about baked goods. At this time of year, I am sure that I am not the only one with cookies on my mind. There is no better time of year for a cookie lover. From office parties to family dinners and everywhere in between, it seems like there is a plate of cookies almost everywhere you go during the holidays. The variety of holiday cookie recipes out there seems to be endless. However, in many families, the same types of cookies are made year after … Continue reading →

Holiday Newsletters – A Great Way To Preserve Family History

As Christmas approaches, many of you are probably very busy. There are gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, parties to attend, and many other details that need to be taken care of in the next ten days. While right now may not be the best time to add something else to your extra-large holiday to-do list, I have come across a great family history project that I might implement next holiday season. Family newsletters are a great way to send good tidings to friends and family while providing a glimpse into what your family has been doing for the past … Continue reading →

Christmas Traditions Build Family Connections

What kinds of Christmas traditions does your family have? How did they get started? Which family member began this tradition, and who has it been passed onto since then? Genealogists can record a lot of very interesting family history at this time of year. Continuing a family tradition is a great way to connect with living family members, as well as to remember loved ones who have passed away. My family has some rather odd Christmas traditions. When my siblings and I were very young, my mother and grandmother would take us to the closest shopping mall to visit Santa. … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and many of us are looking forward to getting together with our families to celebrate. As with all holidays, there had to be a “First Thanksgiving” from which all of our modern-day festivities originated. Exactly when and where this happened is a matter of debate, but many Americans believe that it happened in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The celebration was similar to harvest celebrations that were common in Europe around the time when the Pilgrims came to America. The first Thanksgiving was very meaningful, for the Pilgrims had much to be thankful for – not only … Continue reading →

The Importance Of Preserving Family History and Traditions

Today I had a philosophical moment. I was thinking about genealogy and in particular about my mixed ethnic background. I have ancestors from Italy, Ireland, Canada, Scotland, and more. At times, I have yearned for a more direct connection to a single ethnicity so that I could more clearly identify myself with a particular culture. I wanted to be able to say that “I’m Italian” or “I’m mostly Irish” or something like that. There is one clear statement that I can make about my heritage and that is that I am an American. In fact, if you consider what makes … Continue reading →

Wedding Traditions, Symbolism & Superstition

Weddings are fun. Or they should be. We’ve talked about wedding superstitions before, but did you know that many parts of the actual ceremony and the set up are directly related to historical ideals and superstitions? For example, did you know: Traditionally, a groom would kidnap his bride and hold her with his left arm? This would keep his right arm and sword arm free to battle other suitors. Today, modern brides walk down the aisle to join their groom, but they still stand on the groom’s left Marriages and weddings were a diplomatic means of ending strife between two … Continue reading →

“Basketball Chicken” and other Family Traditions

Strong, functioning families have their own traditions and special identifiers. I’m not talking just about holidays and birthdays here—but those little daily things—sayings, secret nicknames and language, and activities that are unique to your family that all help to identify and bond a family together. After nearly twenty years, our little family has all sorts of things that are unique to our family. Whenever a new person gets to know us well and becomes an “insider,” they are indoctrinated into our special sayings, the history of nicknames, created recipes, and other “secret” details. Since we’ve been through a divorce and … Continue reading →

The History of Valentine’s Day

Today is the day when we all rush out to get last minute cards, flowers, and candy. You won’t be able to get down the card aisle at WalMart, but hopefully the flowers you find won’t be too picked over. I went to WalMart yesterday and the workers were carrying out flowers and candy constantly to refresh the supply. But, do you know the history of Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is named in honor of St. Valentine. The holiday has roots in both Roman and Christian traditions, but the exact origin is unknown although there are a couple of theories. … Continue reading →