Monthly Archives: December 2010

Eleven for ’11

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As the New Year approaches, I’ve composed a list of 11 genealogy/writing goals I have for 2011.


1. Follow up on researching my Alzo ancestors using information I obtained from my trip to Slovakia this summer.

2. Publish revised editions (and electronic versions) of my books, Three Slovak Women and Baba’s Kitchen.

3. Try to find out more about my grandmother’s brother who stayed in Slovakia.

4. Publish a new book.

5. Explore genealogy in Second Life.

6. Book additional speaking engagements–including some remote/virtual lectures.

7. Blog more frequently and try to use Twitter more for genealogical purposes.

8. Continue to expand my freelance writing career.

9. Write for at least 15 minutes per day (about ancestors or topics not associated with assignments or deadline projects).

10. Finish organizing my father’s scrapbook of his basketball days.

11. Purge, purge, purge the clutter! Organize all the other!


I’m happy to report that I accomplished all of the goals on my “Ten in 10” list, except one. Due to extenuating circumstances I was not able to publish a new book. So, I carried that goal over to 2011.

To my fellow Geneabloggers: What are your goals for the New Year? I wish you a happy, healthy, and productive 2011!



Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Top 10 in ’10

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Another year is drawing to a close. It’s the time for reflection and resolutions. Last year I listed my Top Ten Genealogical Moments for 2009. So, it’s time to do it again.


Lisa’s Top Ten Genealogical Moments for 2010

10. Participation as a speaker at the Family History Expos in Mesa, AZ, Loveland, CO, Kansas City, MO, Salt Lake City (Sandy), UT, Pleasanton, CA, and Atlanta, GA. I also spoke at a number of other venues including Ottawa, Canada, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA, and various places in New York.

9. Visiting with many of my fellow Geneabloggers–some I’ve known for awhile and others I met for the first time.

8. A weekend in New York City with fellow genealogists/friends highlighted by a visit to Ellis Island, dinner in Little Italy, and also at a Polish restaurant in Brooklyn.

7. Having my articles published in Ancestry Magazine, Discovering Family History Magazine, Family Tree Magazine, Family Chronicle Magazine, Internet Genealogy Magazine, and The Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly.


5. A chance to visit with friends and colleagues during the National Genealogical Society conference in Salt Lake City, UT.

4. Learning that my great-grandfather Ján Alzo was a “bird of passage” and locating two records showing his passage to the United States during the 1890s.

3. My trip to Slovakia! It took me 15 years to get there and it was so worth the wait! I had the opportunity to visit three out of four of my ancestral villages (see my posts: Sojourn in Slovakia).

2. Bringing Grandma back home by posing for a picture in front of the sign for Milpos, Slovakia–my grandmother’s birthplace holding a copy of my book Three Slovak Women.

And, my number one genealogical moment of 2010 (drumroll…)


1. Meeting my Alzo cousins in Kucín–especially my cousin Renata, her husband, Robert, and her parents. A moment I will never forget! (See: Sojourn in Slovakia).



Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Veselé Vianoce! Merry Christmas!

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Every year I receive a beautiful Slovak Christmas Greeting card from one of my colleagues.


This is the 2010 greeting.


Veselé Vianoce a šťastný nový rok!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!




Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: Christmas Eve

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December 24 – Christmas Eve

How did you, your family or your ancestors spend Christmas Eve?


[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]


For Slovaks, Christmas Eve is more solemn than Christmas Day. It is a time for praising God and for being together with family. Here is a blog post from in which I describe how my family celebrated Christmas. Things have changed over the years since my grandparents and parents passed away, but I try to honor the Slovak traditions in my own home to the best of my ability.


Click here to read my blog post from 2007 in which I describe the Christmas Eve traditions in my family.


Enjoy! Vesele Vianocé! (Merry Christmas!)







Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: December 23 – Christmas Sweetheart Memories

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December 23 – Christmas Sweetheart Memories

Do you have a special memory of a first Christmas present from a sweetheart? How did you spend your first Christmas together? Any Christmas engagements or weddings among your ancestors?


[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]


I honestly can’t remember my first Christmas present from a sweetheart. I cherish all of the presents my husband has given me over the years–jewelry, perfume, candies, favorite CDs and DVDs and other thoughtful gifts. We have an agreement not to buy each other expensive items. Usually we get one “nice” item that is for the both of us each Christmas, and then we just exchange small gifts on Christmas Day. Just being together is the best gift of all.



Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: December 22 – Christmas and Deceased Relatives

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December 22 – Christmas and Deceased Relatives

Did your family visit the cemetery at Christmas? How did your family honor deceased family members at Christmas?



[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]


Yes, we would visit the cemetery on Christmas Day. We had to go to two different cemeteries because my mother’s parents were buried in a different cemetery than my father’s parents. We would always put a wreath on the grave of a deceased ancestor. Also, we would contribute for flowers to be put on the altar at church in memory of deceased loved ones.





Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: December 21 – Christmas Music

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December 21 – Christmas Music
 What songs did your family listen to during Christmas? Did you ever go caroling? Did you have a favorite song?

[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]


My family listened to all of the traditional Christmas carols–religious and secular, as well as Slovak versions of Christmas hymns. I used to go caroling as part of school activities. I can’t carry a tune to save my life so I am not a big caroler, but I love to listen to Christmas music.

My favorite song is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”


Click here to read the rest of the original post from December 2009.


Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: December 20 – Religious Services

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Religious Services
Did your family attend religious services during the Christmas season? What were the customs and traditions involved?

[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]

Going to church was always a part of our Christmas celebration. Our church, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic church, was branded the “Slovak parish” because it was established by Slovak immigrants, and usually had a pastor who was of Slovak heritage. My paternal grandfather was very active in the church.

When I was very young we would attend the early mass (4 p.m.). Occasionally, we would go to mass on Christmas Day, but most of the time we went to midnight mass. The church was always beautifully decorated with poinsettias and candles and the manger. I always enjoyed the carols and at our church the choir also sang several Christmas carols in Slovak, which was a very special tribute to the Slovak heritage.

I still prefer to attend midnight mass–although it is no longer held at midnight–usually 10 p.m. at most of the churches in our area. I still enjoy listening to carols but I really do miss the Slovak ones as in my home parish. Fortunately, I inherited an album (yes a 33 1/3 RPM for those of you old enough to remember) from my mother that has both English and Slovak versions of Christmas hymns. It was recorded at another Slovak parish in Pittsburgh. I play it every Christmas Eve. I also have converted it to digital format so I can listen to it on CD or my computer/iPod.


Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: December 19 – Christmas Shopping

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December 19 – Christmas Shopping
 How did your family handle Christmas Shopping? Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?


[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]


My mother was the Christmas shopper. I remember that she would start early and go on all day shopping adventures with her sister (my aunt) Helen. When I became an adult I would occasionally join them. We’d shop for hours, have a nice lunch–good times.


I must admit that since my mother passed away many years ago, the joy of going Christmas shopping for me is gone too. I don’t like large crowds or rude and pushy people. So, if I have to go to a “brick and mortar” store to do any holiday shopping, I always start early. This year I did 95% of my shopping online, which was so nice. A few clicks of the mouse and I was done!


Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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Advent Calendar 2010: December 18 – Christmas Stockings

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December 18 – Christmas Stockings
Did you have one? Where did you hang it? What did you get in it? Do you have any Christmas stockings used by your ancestors?


[Note: This post originally ran during the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories in December 2009]


I have always had a Christmas stocking. I’ve had two special stockings since I was a young girl that my next door neighbor crocheted for me.



We did not have a fireplace in my childhood home so I hung my stocking on the banister in the living room. Santa would leave special little gifts–a pair of socks or mittens, an ornament for the tree (usually a koala bear ornament), a yo-yo or some other fun little game, candy, and always a few dollars.


I have a fireplace in my current home and those stockings are hanging above it right now!


And I sure hope Santa intends to fill them this year! 🙂



Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

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