Happy 250th Birthday, America!

(We published this post in 2021, and in view of the fact that this weekend was a very special July 4th, we thought you might like to read about the origins of the holiday again. In spite of the terrible heatwave and strong storms covering most of the country, we hope you had a  chance to celebrate this historic occasion.)

Another Holiday Tradition: The Thanksgiving Song

Do you remember learning that sweet Thanksgiving song when you were younger? Did you hum "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go" long before you ever knew that horses were harnessed to sleighs in the days before people just got into their cars and drove to Grandma's? Like many holiday traditions, this well-worn one is not the same as when it started, and so we thought you'd like a little background before you start humming this week. We hope you still have a grandparent to go to for your holiday, or, if you are the grandparent, that your family will be making a trek to your comfortable home for a delicious holiday meal. Meanwhile, here's some fun information on this beloved holiday classic.

Ready to Buy Some Genealogy Books? Let the Holiday Shopping Begin!

The holidays are fast approaching, and this week, we have some great book buys for you and the genealogy/history lovers on your shopping list. The first notice is time-sensitive, but the second item we have for you is a recommended reading/book buying list for anyone wanting more information about DNA and genealogy. Here you go!

Happy Belated Father's Day!

If you are lucky enough to have a father in your life, we hope you had a wonderful day this past weekend enjoying his company and celebrating his accomplishments. We also thought you might like to know how Father's Day came about, and you might be surprised to learn how far back the tradition goes.

Veterans Day and Genealogy

Happy Veterans Day! If you, your children, or other living family members have served in the military, we thank you so much for your service. If your parents, grandparents, or any other relatives in the past have served, this day commemorates them as well, and this holiday Monday, we are reminded of their commitment to our country and everything it stands for. Veterans Day, once called Armistice Day, is often confused with Memorial Day. The latter honors our fallen heroes, whereas Veterans Day was created as a way to say thank you and to honor living veterans. It is a fairly new holiday which began early in the twentieth century, when President Woodrow Wilson called on Americans to “remember the armistice,” signed on 11 November 1918, that ended World War I. His intention was to emphasize peace and to honor thousands of men who served in the war.

Gift Ideas for Genealogists

Are you ready for the holiday season? It's here! As we look ahead to Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, it's time to start thinking about holiday gifts for those genealogists on your shopping list, and we are pleased to present our traditional "Genealogy Gift Guide," in case you need some ideas. Although it's easier than it was during the past few years at this time to get out to the stores, you can still purchase almost all of these items online. So whether you get into your car or shop in your jammies at your computer, have fun fulfilling someone's (or your own) wish lists.

2020 Holiday Gift Ideas for Genealogists

As the holiday season gets into full swing for this strangest of years, we are repeating one of our annual traditions: our list of gift suggestions for your favorite genealogist or historian. Luckily, you don't have to venture outside to purchase any of these items, as all are available online. So, go fill your coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or hot toddy cup, grab your credit card, and have fun working on the following ideas to make your genie-buddy's holiday just a bit brighter (or to gift yourself!)

Thanksgiving Treats and Traditions

Make the Most of Your Holiday Gathering

As families and friends gather to celebrate the holidays, genealogists have many opportunities to explore their families' heritage and traditions. It's a great time to teach the next generation the secrets to your family recipes or the meaning behind the special dishes, silverware, or serving pieces you inherited and hope to pass on.

You can share stories as you eat or as you create something delicious using Grandma's mixing bowls. Record your traditions—take photos or videos and write down how you came to be making the traditional foods your family enjoys at the holidays each year.

Make copies of the family recipes to send home with your cousins. Recall the foods you ate at holiday gatherings in the past. What was delicious? What do you wish you could recreate? What foods were awful experiments that you still laugh about today?

Food has always been the center of family gatherings. No matter what your ethnic or religious background is, preparing and serving special dishes for family and guests is universal. What is center stage for your Thanksgiving table?

• Is it turkey? Do you serve it brined, roasted, deep-fried, stuffed, or unstuffed?
• If not turkey, then ham? Prime rib? Goose or duck? Turducken or tofurkey?
• What accompanies the main course? Stuffing (or dressing), mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or sweet potatoes with marshmallows and pineapple?
• What about cranberries . . . jellied from a can or homemade with orange and pecans? Or does your family just not like them at all?
• Many a table is graced with that old standby green bean casserole this week. Is yours? Perhaps you prefer different veggies like Brussels sprouts or broccoli?
• What's the grand finale to the meal? Pumpkin, sweet potato, or apple pie? Something with nuts or filled with chocolate?

After you've thought about (and/or consumed) all the food, why not turn to other topics? Have you ever broken from tradition and tried something new? Did your family rebel or consider it an adventure to try something different?

Are there activities you look forward to each Thanksgiving? Maybe your family plays board games, watches television, or goes to the park to play touch football. Some families put up their Christmas tree or sing around a piano or guitar. Maybe you like to watch a marathon of holiday movies. Whatever it is your family does each year, be sure to record those memories too.

Finally, whether your traditions are completely different from those mentioned above or waiting to be newly created, Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for the bounty of the harvest and the warmth of family and friends. If you are surrounded by people you care about, all that matters is the enjoyment of good company and the feast you or your hosts have prepared.

Whether you journal, blog, scrapbook, write stories, or take photos, your family will thank you for preserving the memories of what makes your Thanksgiving special. And all of us at St. Louis Genealogical Society hope you have the happiest of holidays!