Geneology and Family Reunions

Incorporating Genealogy into Family Reunions

Every family has a fascinating story…or several! Your reunion provides the perfect opportunity to explore your history and share it with the people who are most likely to be interested: the rest of your family tree! At your next family reunion, try the following fun and simple activities to incorporate genealogy and ancestry into your gathering.

Family Name Tags

Greeting guests at the door with name tags is a simple and effective way to bring the family tree to each person's mind as they arrive at the reunion. Use identifying markers on the name tags, such as different colors or symbols for each branch of the tree, so people can tell at a glance who is related to whom. If you are incorporating t shirts into your family reunion get together use a coordinating name tag color, so the Hathaway family is always red for example.

Family History Facts

Like the name tags, crosswords and other puzzles take a bit of preparation, but they pay off in the fun and educational facts the guests will learn about their family. Fill a crossword, word search, or other word puzzle with names and facts relevant to your family's history. Whenever possible, include the names of living relatives – people will get a kick out of seeing themselves in the puzzles. These games are also a great ice-breaker, since guests will need to pool their knowledge to solve the entire puzzle.

Enlist a Presenter

A family reunion is a great time to hold a brief presentation on your family's background. This can focus on one famous ancestor, or summarize the history of the entire family tree. Either way, it's a great opportunity for the family history buff to show off their knowledge and for others to learn new (or old) facts about their heritage. If possible, incorporate old photos, videos, and slide shows for added impact. Just remember to keep the presentation short, especially if there are a lot of children present.

Ask the Older Generation to Tell Stories

Of course, when it comes to family history, the elder members are sure to be full of true stories, straight from the source. You'd be surprised by how much Grandma can remember when you ask about her childhood experiences or the move overseas when she was five years old. Elderly relatives usually love the chance to be in the spotlight and regale their kids and grandkids with tales of what their family was like “way back when.”

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