Don’t forget to preserve family recipes, traditions this holiday season

JACKSON, Tenn. — A new survey finds nearly half of Americans can’t make family-favorite holiday dish due to lost recipes. This is a reminder of the importance of preserving family recipes, memories and traditions.

The holidays are a time for families to come together, often making beloved dishes that have been passed down for generations. Around the dinner table is a great place to have conversation. Share family stories, ask about holidays past, or ask family couples how they met — get those family stories flowing. You should also ask family members about their favorite dishes from holidays past.

“Ask them if they remember who made them or who started the tradition or where it came from. Older family members in particular may hold the key to the secret ingredient from grandma’s sweet potato pie or, in my case, aunt Rhonda’s lemon meringue,” said Crista Cowan, Ancestry corporate genealogist.

Once you have those conversations, write down notes or take audio recordings. Gather the information in one place, whether that’s physical or digital, to preserve those memories for generation to come.

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