{"id":46777,"date":"2018-12-12T10:20:21","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T15:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=46777"},"modified":"2023-08-03T15:20:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T19:20:25","slug":"interviewing-family-members-for-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/interviewing-family-members-for-the-holidays.html","title":{"rendered":"Interviewing Family Members for the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips for asking family history questions of relatives gathered for the holidays. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

What memories stand out for you during the holidays? When I was growing up, Christmas wasn\u2019t Christmas unless the model train was chugging away on an endless loop beneath the fake green plastic needles of the Christmas tree. We never had a \u201creal\u201d tree, but to be honest I was more concerned that we never had a flocked tree since those seemed really cool.<\/p>\n

My dad had built a platform for the tree and the train tracks, miniature buildings, and painted Styrofoam mountain tunnel so that the model train could make its way in an endless loop with fake smoke billowing from its smokestack. We\u2019d watch that train go around and around every night as the days slowly passed toward Christmas day. Christmas wasn\u2019t complete unless that train was making its rounds. As a child I assumed we had a model train around our Christmas tree because my dad and my grandpa worked for the railroad. It wasn\u2019t until later I realized that other people also shared that tradition.<\/p>\n

What were the holidays like in your family? Those types of memories are ephemeral because no one thinks to write them down. Everyone knows your family\u2019s traditions, so why document them?\u00a0 Once the family members that shared that memory are gone, the traditions or the reason behind the traditions can be gone as well.<\/p>\n

Now\u2019s the time. Interview your family, young and old, and document your own memories. Make this the year that you capture those annual traditions.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: \u201cHappy Christmas\u201d by Johansen Viggo, 1891. Source: Den Hirschsprungske Samling; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Time to Ask Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

You already know that the holidays are a great time to interview family members and ask questions about photos and ancestors, and to have them recall stories. You know that one of the first tasks in family history research is to talk to the older generation. And you know that interviewing should include specific, open-ended questions that can help get the conversation started. But what are some holiday discussion starters that can make for interesting family history stories?<\/p>\n

Take some time while you are gathered with family to ask a few questions, whether you start off the holiday meal with everyone answering a question, or you have people choose from a jar of questions you\u2019ve prepared on paper. Use that time to add to your family history by getting information from your family.<\/p>\n

Not getting together with family this year? That\u2019s ok, you can still \u201cinterview\u201d family members even if you aren\u2019t going to see them in person. Are you on Facebook? Take some questions you want answered and post them as a private message to family members on Facebook. If your family isn\u2019t on social media, consider sending out a group email. You could even involve the younger generation by sending out a group text via your cell phone.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget that while it\u2019s great to hear about the \u201cgood old days,\u201d the memories of the younger generation of the family are equally important. Just imagine how great it would be for that now 10-year-old cousin to be reintroduced to their memories when they are 18 years old \u2013 or even later when they have their own children.<\/p>\n

To help get you started, consider some of the following holiday-oriented questions:<\/p>\n

Holiday Season and Winter<\/strong><\/p>\n