Inherited wisdom
Inherited wisdom before it is lost
Every time an elder passes away, a library disappears. Here are questions to ask while you can, and a place to share what you have learned.
TraditionExperience
Questions for grandma
- What is your very first memory?
- How did you celebrate Christmas when you were little?
- Which herbs, plants or berries did you use at home, and for what?
- What did your mother do when someone was ill?
- Which sayings or rhymes do you remember from childhood?
- Was there anything you were not supposed to do, to avoid bad luck?
- What is the wisest advice you have been given, and by whom?
- What was hard when you were young, and how did you get through it?
- Which recipes would you like us to keep?
- What are you most proud of?
- What do you want your grandchildren to know about life?
- Is there anything you wish you had asked your own grandparents?
Tips for the conversation
Set aside plenty of time, perhaps over a cup of coffee or an old photo album. Ask permission to record the conversation, so you can write it down later. Listen more than you talk, and let the pauses be. The best stories often come in the pauses.
Proverbs that have been passed down
- “After rain comes sunshine.”
- “Many small streams make a great river.”
- “The morning hour has gold in its mouth.”
- “Nothing is so bad that it is not good for something.”
- “Whoever waits for something good does not wait in vain.”
- “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.”
- “A small tussock can topple a big load.”
Experience
Share advice with Arvekraft
Have you learned something from a mother, grandmother, aunt or neighbour? Share it, so it can live on. We read everything, and ask before we publish anything.
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