Holiday table cards

For the whole table — every generation, no preparation.

Twenty-five one-line starters to say out loud between the main course and dessert. Each one can be answered by the eight-year-old and the eighty-year-old at the same table — and the room learns something both times.

USING THIS WELL

One question per round is plenty — let it go all the way around the table before the next. Anyone may pass, the youngest answers first (it makes it safe for everyone else), and if a phone in the middle of the table happens to be recording, this becomes the year the family kept the dinner.

Table rounds

What's the best thing that happened to you this year?
What's a food you refused to eat as a kid that you love now?
Who made you laugh recently, and what did they do?
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?
What's your first memory of this holiday?
If you could invite anyone who's ever sat at this table back for one more dinner, who?
What did you learn this year that surprised you?
What's your favorite smell in this house?
What's a chore you secretly don't mind?
Who taught you to ride a bike — or whatever it was you rode?
What's the best gift you've ever given?
What's a family saying of ours that outsiders wouldn't understand?
If our family had a motto, what should it be?
What are you looking forward to?
What's the best meal you've ever eaten, anywhere, ever?
Who's the best cook you've ever known, and what was their dish?
What's a small thing someone did for you this year that you still think about?
What's your earliest memory of someone at this table?
If you could wake up tomorrow great at one thing, what would it be?
What's the weather story you'll never stop telling — the blizzard, the flood, the heat wave?
What's the naughtiest thing you got away with as a kid?
What would you do with a completely free day tomorrow?
What's one song everyone at this table should hear at least once?
Who do you wish were here right now, and what would you serve them?
What are you most thankful for that money didn't buy?

When the answers start coming: record the voice, not just the words — and give the stories a permanent, private home, free.

Holiday table cards

For the whole table — every generation, no preparation.

USING THIS WELL

Table rounds

What's the best thing that happened to you this year?
What's a food you refused to eat as a kid that you love now?
Who made you laugh recently, and what did they do?
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?
What's your first memory of this holiday?
If you could invite anyone who's ever sat at this table back for one more dinner, who?
What did you learn this year that surprised you?
What's your favorite smell in this house?
What's a chore you secretly don't mind?
Who taught you to ride a bike — or whatever it was you rode?
What's the best gift you've ever given?
What's a family saying of ours that outsiders wouldn't understand?
If our family had a motto, what should it be?
What are you looking forward to?
What's the best meal you've ever eaten, anywhere, ever?
Who's the best cook you've ever known, and what was their dish?
What's a small thing someone did for you this year that you still think about?
What's your earliest memory of someone at this table?
If you could wake up tomorrow great at one thing, what would it be?
What's the weather story you'll never stop telling — the blizzard, the flood, the heat wave?
What's the naughtiest thing you got away with as a kid?
What would you do with a completely free day tomorrow?
What's one song everyone at this table should hear at least once?
Who do you wish were here right now, and what would you serve them?
What are you most thankful for that money didn't buy?