My niece recently finished writing a book on my mother’s family genealogy. She previously had done the same in my father’s family. After reading the two books, I learned that on my mother’s side we are related to a few aristocrats, however on my father’s side, there were some shady characters.

Working on a genealogy is often referred to as checking on your roots. Webster’s definition of genealogy is known as a history of the descendant of a person or family from an ancestor. Their pedigree or lineage.

An unknown author once said families are like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. So it’s no surprise when looking up our ancestors it is known as searching our family tree.

Our strong connection with trees could possibly be from their shared similar characteristics. We both stand upright, have a crown on top and mobile limbs coming out of a central trunk. The pattern of the tubular branches in our lungs is similar to the root system of many trees.

Perhaps this is why sacred groves of trees have played an important part in cultures throughout the world. We have the cedar trees of Lebanon, redwood groves in North America, the shaman forest in Peru, the Garden of Gethsemane in Israel and the sacred sites of Shinto and Buddhist Groves in Japan.

Hardwood trees compare to humans in three distinct ways: both are mostly water, have a peak life span of approximately 80-plus years and are completely unique. It is common knowledge that humans breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, while trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. This is the reason why humans and trees have been bound by a bond since the beginning of time.

The Native American Lenape tribe had their own legend about a young girl that would walk from the village to visit her grandfather (a maple tree).

Homer wrote in the Iliad, “Like the generations of leaves are those of men. The wind blows and one year’s leaves are scattered on the ground, but the trees bud and fresh leaves open when spring comes again. So, a generation of men is born as another passes away.”

As Homer in the Iliad associated one’s life with that of the tree, the Lenape Indian Tribe also associated the tree with one’s life, however, their legends told of the many gifts that trees have given to humans since the start of time.

A portion of a poem about tracing your family tree begins like this:

“There’s been a change in Grandma we’ve noticed here of late.

She’s reading history or jotting down some date.

She’s tracking back the family; we’ll all have pedigrees.

Oh, Grandma’s got a hobby; she’s climbing Family Trees.

Poor Grandpa does the cooking and now, or so he states,

That worst of all, he has to wash the cups and dinner plates.

Grandma can’t be bothered; she’s busy as a bee,

Compiling Genealogy, for the Family Tree.”

Perhaps you have looked up your family tree and you know that tracing your ancestry can become addictive, just like climbing trees when you were a youngster.

Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.