Yule was a Viking word used to describe the winter solstice. They would cut a log and burn it to chase away evil spirits. It eventually spread to many countries and religions. The Christians viewed it as a way to … Continued
[learn_more caption=”Merry Christmas” state=”open”] Merry Christmas[/learn_more] This is a great time to make family time and family history count. Some of these ideas include: Share your favorite Christmas memory—either from adulthood or as a child Share how certain family traditions … Continued
The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Oliver Wendell Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of … Continued
Candy Canes were first used by a minister in Germany during the late 1600’s to quiet restless children during long services. The white is to represent the sinless life of Christ and the crook in the neck is to represent … Continued
The Tradition of Christmas through the Ages! We all know that we have Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered how it became what it is today? How our ancestors celebrated Christmas? What traditions other … Continued
Many libraries and counties have online indexes that can save a lot of time before you take a genealogy trip. Check with your local library or library of interest to inquire if they have an online index. However, online indexes … Continued
Germans traditionally have Advent wreath in their families, it is said to be originated with the German Lutherans. The wreath is made of a circle of greenery in which four candles are set, a large white candle is set in … Continued
The hunt to find our family history has exploded with the advent of the internet. Research is at the tip of our fingertips and records are much easier to find than ever before. However, with this ease of information we … Continued
Christmas Carols originated as pagan dance rituals and gained popularity during the American Civil War. Huge choruses began assembling and singing carols to celebrate the Messiah’s birth. By 1928 there were over 2000 American cities with carolers. Most popular Christmas … Continued
Sources are very important in genealogy. These provide the proof that is needed to document each person’s life. In genealogy there is such a things as a standard of proof. Too often information is provided that is inaccurate and untrue. … Continued