Why Did My Ancestor Migrate?
Have you ever wondered why your ancestor migrated to the new world? For some, it’s easy to figure out. The Irish Famine of the 18th Century The Religious persecution of the pilgrims The persecution of the Jews The one thing … Continued
Here We Come A-Wassiling
“Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green.” But, what is a-wassailing? This is when people would godoor to door singing at New Year’s. This was the same tradition as singing Christmas Carols, but it was for the new … Continued
Understanding Migration Patterns
When working on my immigrant ancestors, I noticed {as you probably have} various ethnic groups settled in various areas. After all, the early Scots-Irish settled in Virginia and trickled down into the Carolina’s. The Spanish settled in Florida, because it … Continued
9 Ways to Keep Generations Straight of the Same Name
Recently, I was working on one of my lines and it became very confusing. After all there was a Sr, Jr., III, IV and even V to keep straight. It can become very confusing at times when dealing with generation … Continued
The Months: History of January
January is the first month of the year on both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The first day of the month of January is New Year’s Day. January is also the first month of the year to have 31 days. … Continued
History of Rose Bowl Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade is held every New Year’s Day in Pasadena,California. The parade includes floats covered with flowers, marching bands and equestrian units. The parade first began on January 1, 1890 when members of the Valley Hunt Club … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: New Year’s Eve Traditions
We celebrate the beginning of the New Year, but when did this begin? New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1 for the first time in 45 B.C. when the Julian calendar took effect. New Year’s Day celebrations fell out … Continued
History of Times Square
Every New Year’s Eve, at least a million people crowd into Times Square in New York City to watch the New Year’s ball drop. This is a tradition dating back to 1907/1908 and is watched by millions of people around … Continued
History of Christmas Recipes: Wassail
We sing “Here we come a-wassailing“, but what does it mean? The term was used as a simple greeting and toast. The term has evolved over the centuries. The word ‘wassail’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘waes hael’, which means … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: Nativity
Today we use nativity scenes as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. But, how did they begin? A nativity scene depicts the birth of Jesus as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Saint Francis of Assisi … Continued