Stepping into the Shoes of Our Ancestors
As a professional costumer, I enjoy studying fashion trends and creating clothing that represents historical time periods and various cultures. I am continually fascinated by the transformation that takes place when a person dons the costume for a character he or she is portraying in a theatrical or film production, or even a family history home video or skit. Dressing the part helps brings a character “to life.” Dressing like our ancestors helps breathe life into their stories and is a fun way to not only learn more about what they must have been like, but to connect with them in a unique and memorable way. Dressing up also seems to spur questions about people, places, and related history and often initiates more and deeper research into the past. Recording skits, story-telling, and conversation as this activity unfolds preserves memories for generations to come while enjoying the “here and now” as illustrated in this video found on The Family History Guide YouTube Channel:
See The Family History Guide Activities Page for more activity ideas such as:
F1-05: Ancestor Look-Alike
Have an Ancestor Look-Alike activity, make a photo collage, 
or give this FamilySearch app a try: Compare-A-Face
F1-07: Ancestors Are Us
Re-enact your ancestors’ stories and record them with pictures or video (see blog post). 
Also, enjoy ideas from The Family Locket: How to Do an Ancestor Skit Night at Your Family Reunion 
Learn how one man carries this idea to the extreme in this BBC World Service Article by Ann:
Excellent article – thanks for helping us see our ancestors in a new light!
Our family has had so much fun and learned so many incredible things about our ancestors as they have come to life for us through our skits, games, and sharing their stories. We agree with what you have written Angelle. Thank you for posting!