There
are certain days during the year when everyone seems to assume the same
nationality for one reason or another. Some people do it because they like the
color green, some because they use it as an excuse to drink, and others because
they just enjoy the atmosphere of the day. However, for many of us it is an
excuse to look deeper into our roots. St. Patrick’s Day is probably the best
example of this community participation.
Being
Irish was not really something that was a focus for me growing up. In fact,
nationality was never really something that was a focus for anyone in my
family. We were all born in the United States, our parents were, our
grandparents, and our great grandparents so the tether to the boat was quite
long. It wasn’t until we really started taking a closer look in recent years
(at least for me) that I became more interested and connected to the various
heritages that I carry with me.
It
started on my dad’s side as I still remember driving down to Virginia in the
summer of 1987 and spending the long weekend at the family reunion. This was a
little different than the typical reunion that comes to mind as each person in
attendance could trace back to the original German/French ancestor that arrived
in Philadelphia on 27 October 1764. Good luck trying to figure out how you’re
related to each person.
We
never knew much about all the other branches on my dad’s side but that has
developed substantially over the past decade or so. There is far more than just
German blood in that tree as there are lines across various parts of Europe as
well as deep native roots her in the United States. However, while there is an
assortment of nationalities, there is only a faint touch of Irish blood on that
side.
Much
of my Irish heritage comes from my mom’s side of the family and, growing up, we
were never certain that some of our leaves were a vibrant Kelly green. Once we
put a few pieces together and determined that the original surname was McKenna
there was little doubt that the family’s arrival in the middle of the 19th
century was from Northern Ireland. Tracing your Irish roots back to the potato
famine isn’t very unique but at least now we know.
Like
my dad’s side, my mom’s side of the family is also an interesting mix coming
from various parts of Europe. And just like the German blood is thick on one
side, the Irish blood is thick on the other. Actually, given the tendencies of
each, it might be pretty watered down. So have a drink… you may find out one
day that you’re Irish. Sláinte!
No comments:
Post a Comment