TODAY'S TOP Resources about Traditions in Genealogy:
The founders of Your-Family-Tree.com are committed the study and practice of genealogy. We have chosen the Tree of Life to symbolize our dedication to the exploration and preservation of family ancestry as a living record to pass down from generation to generation. And, we are committed to making Your-Family-Tree.com the most useful online reference guide for building your family tree.
Trace Your Family Tree Online and our commitment to Genealogy research.
“Are you my mother?” Is a question asked by a duckling, from a beloved folktale. He traveled for weeks and weeks asking different animals if they had seen his mother. His long search finally resulted in finding his mother. As we search for information about our ancestors, we can sympathize with the concerned duckling in his search to find his family, which is an allegory for each of our own efforts to trace our family tree. Over the centuries as people have traced their ancestry, the family tree has been the image of the family lineage. This made sense because at one time we were close to the terra firma and the tree is the symbol of life. Today we give homage to the tree as we travel together into cyberspace where knowledge, information, and mobility enable us to trace our family tree more effectively than ever before. As a result you can trace your family tree, discover images, and learn facts about your ancestors so you can create and communicate a living family story. The “information society” is just what the family historian ordered and tracing your family tree online is easier than ever before.
Traditionally people have traced the family tree for a variety of reasons, establishing a link to royalty or simply create a living record to pass down through the generations. Today we are more interested in the family story and how we fit into that story. Tracing your family tree and compiling genealogy data is a key to unlocking a visual and written family story. The ease of tracing your family tree over the internet has enabled more people to collect their ancestral narratives. Collectors are not limited to retired grandparents who have time and patience to document and trace their family tree. Children and young adults who are more comfortable with the internet actively participate in genealogy gathering and tracing the family tree. Family tree games and programs engage younger people and can be collaborative, inspiring the whole family to engage in the search for the family lineage. A friend’s daughter in fifth grade was assigned a project to gather ancestral data and trace the origin of family members on a map. The school project involved all members of the family. The search jump-started a serious interest in the family’s lineage.
Historically family genealogy was communicated through oral history. The family tree was traced and passed down from generation to generation. Sitting around the campfire, people listened with delight to stories of family members. These stories are the threads that tie a family together and are woven into the fabric of the community. With the power of the internet, imagine the excitement generated by finding an internet page with information about your grandmother, seeing her life in photos, reading her letters, and seeing a vibrant record of her life. It is possible to seize the moment and gather the facts of your personal story, encourage children to participate in the process of tracing the family tree. The investment of time will enrich the family and community. The question, “Who is my mother?” is now easily answered with the click of a mouse.