As I walk through forests adorned in the splendor of autumn, I can’t help but marvel at the beauty that God has created. With the shifting of seasons, I find myself in the cycle of transition. This time of year, the warmth of the blanket embraces my soul with desires to read and watch my line up of seasonal movies. October begins with the Pixar animation movie Coco. While the movie Coco is inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos, the story is full of tender family history messages.
Coco tells the story of Miguel, a young boy whose desire to discover and follow his great-great-grandfather’s legacy takes him on a colorful journey through the Land of the Dead. In this vibrant world, he meets many members of his family tree who long to return to the world of the living on Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) to visit the loved ones they left behind. But here’s the catch—they can only do that if one of their living relatives still remembers them.
Just like Miguel’s ancestors, our own family members are counting on us to keep their memories alive. Preserving and sharing their pictures and stories can create a real-life bridge between us in the land of the living and our loved ones who have passed on. These memories enrich our family history, building a connection that goes beyond just a basic knowledge of dates and places.
In family history, no one deserves to be forgotten. Everyone has things in their lives they are not proud of. We can learn from every person’s action, good or bad. But knowing their stories helps understand the human race. They can help us understand ourselves. In the movie Coco, Imelda says to Héctor, “I can’t forgive you, but I will help you.” Let’s help our ancestors not be forgotten. Let’s turn their mistakes into our successes. Let’s learn from the past rather than running from it.
Begin the connection with your own family story by trying these three simple steps:
1. Discover
In family search, begin exploring your family tree and check out your memories gallery to see what photos or stories are already there.
2. Preserve Memories
Coco centers around the idea that no one is really gone until you stop remembering them. When someone dies, all those memories and stories they held in their mind are lost. Unless they told the stories to someone else, those memories are gone along with the person who remembered them. It is so important to ask about these memories while people are still alive. People don’t share their stories unless they feel like someone wants to hear them, so ask! Don’t wait until it is too late. Ask about those stories now.
Find any old photos you or your relatives have and start scanning them so they can be easily stored and shared. If you don’t have photos of your ancestors, use the Memories app to preserve the memories you’re making today.
3. Share
Mama Coco doesn’t ever talk about what her papá was like until Miguel plays “Remember Me.” Upon hearing the familiar song, memories are reawakened. She remembers the words. She remembers the photo and letters she has hidden in her drawer and those artifacts in turn spark memories.
If you have any photos or other family artifacts that are a mystery to you, and you have a family member who is still alive who may know about the artifact, ask them about it! When interviewing someone about their history, bringing photos, artifacts, and music to the interview can always help trigger more stories and memories.
As you feel the joy of discovering your ancestors, share what you learn with the rest of your family. The photos and stories in your Memories gallery can be shared online, through social media, or at a family gathering.
Coco’s heartwarming story, full of tender family history messages, reminds us to remember our loved ones and tell their stories. Just as Miguel and his family learn, family history can be a powerful source of strength, hope, and healing in our lives as we do. Understanding the past can also give our lives more meaning. When we try to understand our ancestors, we start to understand the people in our lives better. We start to understand ourselves and our families better. And we can implement that understanding to improve our lives. It can help us better understand our own purpose in life, strengthen connections with our living family members, and repair family ties that have been damaged or broken. Most important, as we discover, preserve, and share the photos and stories of our ancestors, their memories can come to life for us and our families—and live on forever.
– Barbara Tubbs, Communications, Granite FamilySearch Center