How Melissa Joan Hart is Using Ancestry to Make the Holidays More Meaningful

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ANCESTRY^® BLOG

Key Takeaways

Melissa Joan Hart learned her great-grandmother was a courageous Polish immigrant who travelled to the U.S. alone.
Knowing her ancestors' stories of resilience helped her feel a deeper connection to family during the holidays.
You can enrich holiday traditions by researching and sharing your family's own unique history with loved ones.

As a holiday movie icon, actress, producer, and director, Melissa Joan Hart is always in the festive spirit—and always on the go. But no matter how busy the season gets, family time tops her list.

This year, she set out to make her family’s holiday traditions even more meaningful by exploring her roots with Ancestry. She discovered fascinating stories about the people who came before her—including surprising parallels to her beloved on-screen characters—and found heartfelt ways to weave those connections into this year’s celebrations.

“For me, family is the most important part of the holidays,” Melissa shares. “I’m always looking for new ways for us to connect, and learning more about where we come from has brought us even closer.”

Now, she’s inspiring others to not only uncover their own family stories when they’re together this season, but to preserve them for generations to come.

Family Trees Explain It All…

In the early ’90s, Melissa rocked the screen as Clarissa Darling in Clarissa Explains It All—breaking the fourth wall like a pro. Imagine her surprise when she discovered real “Darlings” in her family tree, starting with her fourth great-grandmother, Tabitha Darling.

“When I found out I have family members with the last name Darling, I got chills! It’s such a sweet reminder that sometimes our stories connect in ways we’d never expect,” Melissa said.

Uncovering Deep Connections to the Sea

Melissa was surprised to learn that her third great-grandfather, Moses B. Hart, was described as a shipbuilder in the 1860 U.S. Census. By 1870, he owned one of the first docks on Long Island, helping make the city of Northport what it is today.

“I couldn’t wait to share this discovery with my dad,” Melissa said. “He’s spent his life working by the water as a clam farmer and later a lobster wholesaler, so discovering our family’s been doing that for generations was a beautiful piece of our story that just made so much sense.”

Putting More “Hart” Into Holiday Traditions

When Melissa explored her AncestryDNA results, she discovered that her ancestors lived in Slovenia in the early 1900s. She even saw a ship passenger list showing her great-grandmother was just 15 years old—and carrying only $25—when she made the journey to the U.S.

“I’ve always loved history and learning about people, so seeing where my mom’s family lived over a century ago was incredible,” Melissa shares. “It inspired me to find ways to honor my Slovenian roots this holiday season—I may even bring a new dish to our Christmas dinner!”

For Melissa, the experience even inspired gift ideas for loved ones on her list. “I’m excited to send my family and friends AncestryDNA kits because it’s a meaningful gift that keeps on giving long after the holidays end.”

French Silk Forever: Digitally Preserving Family Recipes and Photos

Melissa’s grandmother’s French Silk Pie has been a holiday staple for decades...and she wants to keep it that way. She used the Memories tool on Ancestry to upload her grandmother’s family pie recipe—as well as never-before-seen holiday photos from her childhood and with her own children—ensuring they’re preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Embark on your own family history journey this season, just like Melissa.

Feeling inspired to uncover more about your own family history and bring those traditions into your holiday celebrations this year? Start building your family tree for free at Ancestry.ca.