Celebrations

The Reunion

Family reunions are a long standing tradition for families of every race, creed and color. The history of this type of gathering is something that perhaps dates back to the beginning of mankind. Though they have not always been of a formal nature, the gathering of clans or families has been a significant occurrence in helping families to honor the legacy of one’s beginnings.

“A family reunion is an occasion when many members of an extended family get together. Sometimes reunions are held regularly, for example on the same date of every year.

A typical family reunion will assemble the survivors of grandparents, great-grandparents and up for a meal, some recreation and discussion. The older attendees are generally grandparents, parents, siblings or first cousins while the youngest could be second, third or fourth cousins. It is also not uncommon for regular family reunions to be sponsored by family organizations or family associations centered around a more distant common ancestor (often referred to as "ancestral family organizations") or a commonly shared surname ("single surname family organizations").”
— Wikipedia

The celebration of the occasion itself is as varied as the kinds of families who make this a tradition. However you celebrate your family reunion, there are a few simple guidelines to help make it an enjoyable experience.

  1. Organize a small committee of not more than a half dozen people. The larger the committee, the more likely you are to have confusion. Be sure to select the “worker-bees” of the family and determine duties based upon their individual strengths.
  2. Devise a plan at least a year in advance and make a calendar denoting how and when things will need to be completed.
  3. Make a list of every detail of things needed to be done and delegate responsibility to each person in your committee. One of the committee members should be assigned to be a point person to make sure each task is completed by agreed upon dates.
  4. Make a list of emails of heads of each family and communicate often, sharing the process in order to build excitement about the reunion. Be sure to keep your communications positive.
  5. Share interesting facts about the place where you will be coming together for the reunion and if you are gathering at the family homestead, give little tidbits and updates on things that have changed since you last came together.
  6. Keep your conversation between each other (committee members) positive and if you are feeling negative, BREATHE, and communicate once the negative mood passes. Be sure to keep uppermost in your mind the importance of the occasion and the fact that it is to celebrate the legacy of your family.
  7. Make a plan to assign tasks for the weekend of the event to younger members of the family. This will serve as a way of training the next generation that will in years to come carry on the tradition.
  8. Assign the eldest member of each branch to light a candle in honor of family members who have passed as a way of honoring the family legacy.
  9. Enjoy the process!

Happy Reunion!!