Our 4th Friday Society Hangout-on-Air

If you were not able to join us on Friday December 27th for Society for One-Place Studies’ Hangout – no worries, you can watch the archived version over at our Society’s YouTube Channel (you can also check out our two previous Hangouts).

In the spirit of the season, we discussed local holidays and traditions in our one-place studies. Part of the fun of studying a place is to find out not only about the area (its location, businesses, churches, schools and homes or farms) but also its people. More than just recording names and dates and family connections, it is important to learn about the traditions and/or holidays that your place celebrates. We shared that there are a variety of ways to learn more about traditions and holidays – you can review newspapers, journals, diaries, parish records, and local publications (perhaps there are local cookbooks, or church or school directories that have photographs and write-ups about local activities). If there is a university, archives, or library located in your place, their records might be a great place to start your research. Most importantly, don’t forget to interview (either oral or written) local residents who may have participated in the various holidays and traditions through the years.

So have you found out about any local traditions or holidays in your place? Why not share how you researched or found the information and a little bit about the traditions or holidays. Keep in mind not only are there traditions for Christmas and New Year’s Day, but also local summer fairs, festivities and activities relating to local occupations, local citizens/residents, and achievements of your place and its people.

In 2014 we plan to host our hangouts on the 4th Friday of each month – we will post our 2014 schedule on the Geneawebinars calendar as well as at our Community Page so please mark your calendars and plan to join us live or watch the archived recordings in 2014.

Tessa Keough