Hobbies And Interests
Significance
Family reunions are parties held as often as once a year, although some families decide to have one for the very first time and may not have another for several years. Reunions are held to celebrate a family history and encourage learning about a family's roots and branches. Reunions encourage and strengthen relationships with extended family. Young adults and children can hear firsthand stories from older generations, giving them a personal sense of history.
Types
Family reunions can be small, including only grandparents (or great-grandparents), their offspring and their children's children. They can also be exceedingly large, hosting anyone with any type of blood or marital relation. When planning a family reunion party, choosing a theme will make it easier. Knowing your budget and number of guests will help you choose a theme. For instance, a resort vacation might be perfect for your clan of 25 with a sizable budget. Alternatively, a luau or Western theme might be more practical for your family of 200 on a tighter budget.
Features
To host a Western theme family party, reserve an area of a local park, rent a dude ranch, or use Uncle George's farm. Ask several local family members to bring their backyard grills and set up a barbecue area. You can go with steak and chicken or even burgers and dogs. Provide beans, corn on the cob, potato chips and watermelon and you have a meal. Toss horseshoes, play tug-of-war and host a potato sack race. Decorate with rope, hay and bandanas.
Considerations
If you think a luau is more up your family's alley, find a location with water available. The beach, a pool or a swimming hole are all fine. Have everyone bring swimsuits and assign rotating lifeguards. If the idea or roasting a pig makes you queasy, consider pork roast, pineapple chicken and drinks served in (real or plastic) coconut shells. Have a limbo contest and a hula dance-off, and decorate with floral leis, grass skirts, palm trees and anything tropical.
Benefits
Ask someone in advance to be the emcee of the party. As family members arrive, ask them each to tell you something new since the last get-together. Have the emcee give a welcome statement once everyone is present, followed by reading the news provided by each group. This will help fill in everyone on celebratory as well as sad events. Provide name tags to avoid the embarrassment of forgetting a cousin's name, and ask everyone to sign in a large guest book that can be used again for other reunion parties. This will serve as a great genealogical record as well.