Growing up, one of my absolute favorite movies that I always made sure to watch when it came on the Disney Channel annually was Luck of the Irish. In it, a high school boy is blessed with incredible luck and that's because his mother's family are Leprechauns but unfortunately a bad Leprechaun stole their luck, which was stored in a coin. So he, his best friends, and his grandfather must go retrieve their coin, thereby returning their luck. While a fun story, that wasn't what got me thinking every time I watched this movie. Instead, the boy never knew his ancestry. His father would repeatedly tell him "We're from Cleveland" but his mother was very silent on the topic. As a young child, this got me thinking. Where was my family from? What was our heritage?
Just as this boy felt frustrated by his lack of answers, so too was I. I asked my parents but they could only shrug. My grandparents couldn't answer. My Pawpaw on my mom's side told me he was half Cherokee and half German but that didn't help at all since he's not my grandfather by blood. Only marriage. I got angry and asked how could no one know! He smiled sadly and told me simply that it was because it didn't interest anyone else. My family members had been born in America and therefore were American and that was that. That only fueled my desire to figure it out because I cared where we came from! I wanted to know how did we get here? Why Virginia? Why these towns? What languages had our family spoken, how had they lived, and where had they called home?
Well, considering I was just in Elementary School at the time, I promised myself when I got older, I would research into it. I would uncover our family's history. It stayed with me all through middle and high school and well into college but between working, school clubs, chorus, and coursework, there was hardly any free time and what little I did have, I wanted to understandably spend it with friends so it wasn't until after I left college that I began my journey. Except I had a problem. My dad doesn't know who his father is and my grandmother isn't saying. My mom's dad, well, I only know his name and that he is apparently my grandmother's second husband's cousin. I was like fine. I'll just stick to at least the maternal lines for right now to just get some information....however, no one knew my maternal great-grandparents' names. I didn't know my paternal great-grandfather's but that was my mistake as my dad knew it--I just never asked!
It was long though before I started uncovering people. I was excited and just wanted to learn more. I kept digging and digging and while I mostly used one site, I tried to open my searches up on others. I also felt so honored and humbled that I was being given the opportunity to bring their names out of the shadows, where they'd long been forgotten, and instead bring them back to life. Their stories and lives were being told again! I went to the cemetery where my grandmother is buried and so many of the people I'd learned about were buried there! So I went around and introduced myself and just gave thanks for them. After all, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here.
That was Samhain the year before last and it's become a sort of tradition for me. I don't always have time to research my family tree but every October I make it a point to do so as it's be best way I can honor my ancestors. I do it in offering to them. I make visits to the cemeteries to see them and let them know they are not forgotten. My tree has grown so much larger! However, I still hadn't uncovered where they were from! Mostly because I was taking my time to properly give each ancestor attention and time. I didn't want to rush it but I wanted to learn. So, last Christmas, I was surprised by my dad who bought me an Ancestry DNA kit.
I literally began sobbing because this is something I've been wanting to know since I was a little girl and here I sat, 25 years old, and finally I was going to get some answers. Bless his heart though! He thought I was upset instead of thrilled.
Well, the DNA results can and will change depending on the more they learn about DNA and how many others submit tests. So, my initial results were very broad and encompassed loads of regions (if low confidence areas were counted). High Confidence levels were: 47% Great Britain, 20% Scandinavian, 12% Ireland/Scotland, and 7% European West. To be honest, Great Britain was no surprise at all but Scandinavia? What?! I literally couldn't help but be astounded and even more excited to press forward in my research. *I do know that Scandinavians invaded Great Britain (William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D.).* I actually managed to trace my father's family back to England so okay there was that! My mom's was giving me some trouble but I finally managed to get past a block and found German ancestors!
I immediately realized the German was interesting because I'd NEVER had any interest in German or Germany before but last year, before even getting the DNA kit, I suddenly had this sudden interest in Germany and the story I was writing has many German influences. I even went on my favorite Language Learning app to start learning German. Reflecting on this, I do believe my ancestors were trying to communicate to me and give me a clue--I just wasn't listening.
My DNA results have changed so now it says my ethnicity estimates are 85% England, Wales & Northwestern Europe, 11% Ireland and Scotland, and 4% Norway.
Okay, so I've explained how my family research ties in with my Samhain traditions and activities but what about my DNA? I promise I'm not just proudly sharing my answers--though I am elated to finally be getting answers! No, it's because I can add in touches of these cultures and languages to my ancestral altar and Samhain ritual. I can make traditional dishes for my Dumb Supper. I can proudly place miniature country flags near my altar that tie in with my ancestors' homes. It allows me to make it more intimate, personal, and sentimental. I can also use those as symbols and representations for the ancestors that I only have names for. While I still don't know everyone and there are plenty of people I need to do more research on, just to make sure they are my ancestors, I can now encompass them all! I can read their names from a list (I have plenty of names) and those cultural references will help connect me to them.
So, this has been a sacred journey for me and I'm so blessed to have the privilege of undertaking it. To breathe life back into people who are just names on a screen, to learn about where they lived, the times back then, how they would've eaten and dressed, that's an incredible honor. Long have they laid dormant in the shadows, long forgotten from our memories but now they can step forward as they are no longer faded names on a headstone. They are very much alive and a part of me. If not for these individuals, I never would be here. So for that, I thank them with nothing short of a deep sense of gratitude. My ancestral altar will be put up sometime this week and I cannot wait to make it so much more than the very few people I'd had the joy of knowing. I can know make it a true homage to those who've bravely went before me.
Brightest of Blessings!
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