Have Fun with Genealogy During the Holidays

The holidays can be a busy time of year with minimal spare time for things like genealogy research. But you can keep your family history momentum going during the holidays and maybe even get some of your friends and family members started with family history by doing quick and easy genealogy activities. Here are some ideas:

Print out multiple blank pedigree or family tree charts and have a competition at a family party to see who can fill in the most information.
Put photo albums or old pictures on display for family members coming over for the holiday season. Learn a few stories that go along with the photos or the people in them to share with your family.
If you have unlabeled family pictures, pull them out and provide archival pens and pencils for your family to help label them. Family members may have details about photos that you don’t remember.
Create an ancestor trivia game.
Take a few minutes to talk to a family member about his or her personal history, and record your conversation.
Use the 12 days of Christmas or the 8 days of Hanukkah to choose an ancestor and find one piece of information about him or her for each day.
Document your holiday gatherings with photos and quick notes about important, interesting, or funny things that happened while you were together.
Buy a DNA kit for a family member, or bring some to your family gatherings to get the older generation’s DNA samples.
Create a family history Christmas tree by decorating the tree with pictures of ancestors (be sure to label them). Take time with your family to go through the pictures on the tree, talking about each individual represented. This is a great way to get children and grandchildren involved with family history.
Record your family traditions, and include them in your family history book. You might even start a new tradition or resurrect an old one that has gradually faded away. Write about your experiences.

These are just a few of the things you can do to add fun and richness to your family history research and to get your friends and family involved during the holidays. Visit the FamilySearch Research Wiki today for more family history activities.

TechTips: Take Your Genealogy Research with You

Even if you are traveling for the holidays, your family history research doesn’t have to take a vacation. You can take your genealogy with you on your smart phone. Use your smart phone to record living ancestors’ stories, unexpected family moments, or new bits of information. Check out this FamilySearch TechTips article for more ideas, and get prepared to use your smart phone to keep your genealogy research going during the holidays!

Get to Know the RootsTech Official Bloggers!

RootsTech 2012 is coming fast, and it’s time to be a part of the conversation and get to know the RootsTech 2012 official bloggers. Representing the best in genealogy blogging, these fine people will be bringing you the latest news, opinions, and contests for RootsTech 2012. RootsTech is your conference, your community, and your chance to be a part of something groundbreaking. Also, don’t miss the chance to get a special deal on your RootsTech 2012 registration by registering before January 13. Sign up today!

FamilySearch Learning Center Midwest Series

Have an ancestor from the Midwest or just want to learn more about using census and vital records? The U.S. Midwest Beginning Research Series is a new online learning series available at the FamilySearch.org Learning Center. The series can help people start their family history research in the Midwest states. Check out all three lessons in the series today.