nzsghamilton newsUsed with permission. ********************* nzsghamilton news No 1 2nd January 2005 IRISH INTEREST GROUP Lower North Island A new “Irish interest group” for members will be launched on 6th Feb 2005. This is with the blessings of Gwen Reiher, Auckland Irish Group and will be run in conjunction with the Wellington Branch of the NZSG. The intention is to travel around between Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton, Wellington, and the branches in between. This is to make available for everyone in the region, the data collected for your research. There will be a joining fee of $5.00 to help with setting up costs, and a small door charge of $3.00 at each meeting. We have lots of fun things organised for the launch, with special Guests, so come along and have some fun. You might catch a leprechaun and that pot of gold, who knows. Don’t forget your research material as we have plenty of data for you to search. There may be an ancestor or two to be found. Venue: “St Giles Church Hall” **Sunday 6th Feb 2005, 11.30am – 4pm** Cnr, Kilbirnie Cres and Vallance Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington The group is to be run by Jenny Martin. Contact email: jenmartin@paradise.net.nz Those interested in joining please contact, Jenny direct. A NEW YEAR http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1237/13911 Genealogy – A New Year of Genealogy http://genealogy.about.com/b/a/2004_01_02.htm Resolutions for a New Year http://www.scotlandonline.com/heritage/main_feature.cfm?feature_id=170&featu re_cat_id=6 Celebrate in Style http://www.genhelp.org/article.php?sid=191&mode=thread&order=0 New Year, Old Scam http://www.genealogy.com/27_karen.html Focusing on research goals for the new year. http://www.genealogy.com/60_reunion.html New Year’s resolutions for the reunion planner. http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow12.htm Origins of Hogmanay http://merganser.math.gvsu.edu/myth/hogmanay-12-97.html Hogmanay alive and well. http://www.fathertimes.net/irishnewyear.htm Irish New Year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/weird/sites/content/pages/xmas_superstitions.shtm l Weird Welsh Superstitions. http://www.britannia.com/wales/culture2.html Welsh Christmas & New Year http://tvnz.co.nz/view/tvnz_index_skin/tvnz_index_group In case its wet in NZ! http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kyborn/recipeindex.html Recipes from the past. ARTICLE http://www.oz.net/~markhow/writing/ Genealogy & Technology articles by Mark Howells. http://www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Bunting.html What is Genealogy? http://www.usgenweb.org/research/calendar.shtml Old calendar and dating information. http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0411/S00033.htm Genealogy is the new National craze. http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/test-your-genealogy-iq_3.html Test your genealogy IQ. AUS TAS http://www.genseek.net/tads47a.htm An index to 1847 Launceston Newspaper Advertisements is now underway ENG http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk Some areas still under construction. ENG Online Now! Estate Duty Office Indexes to Death Duty Records to 1881. We have just uploaded an additional 4 years of wills to the current online archive.You can now view indexes of English and Welsh Wills and Administrations from 1796 to 1881. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ARCHIVES Now available to search at the National Archivist are a range of categories including; a.. Births, Marriages and Deaths b.. Military Records c.. Emigration and Passports d.. Wills, Administrations and Taxes e.. British Colonies f.. Directories and Professionals g.. Free to View archives -------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMING NEXT a.. Index to Death Duty Registers 1882 - 1890 b.. Harts Army List 1868 c.. Harts Army List 1909 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can search the database for FREE, view images from as little as 20 UK pence (approx 32 US cents) and save and print your copy. If you have already paid to view an image you can view it again without any further charge. Log in at http://www.nationalarchivist.com/login.cfm The National Archivist is part of Trusted Third Party Ltd, UK registered company 3745789. The National Archivist Your Source of Original Documents Online ENG Thought some of you might be interested in this article from the History UK website. Mid-winter festivals were observed in Britain long before Christianity reached our shores. In ancient Britain, the Winter Solstice (near December 22) was seen as a turning point in the cold dark months. Rituals were held to encourage the return of the sun and banish evil spirits believed to lurk in the bleakest days. On the last day of winter, also called Yule, a huge log was added to a bonfire and people gathered round to summon the sun by singing and dancing. Houses were decorated with green plants, particularly mistletoe and holly, as a symbol of fertility and rebirth the new season would bring. Saturnalia, a very popular Roman festival, was held in mid-December. It was celebrated in countries across the Empire, including Britain which was occupied by the Romans from 43 to the early part of the fifth century. The week long party was held in honour of the Roman God Saturn. Revelers enjoyed feasting, visiting family and sharing gifts. The festival offered temporary social freedom for slaves who were excused from work and allowed privileges, such as the right to gamble. In 596, St. Augustine undertook a mission to bring Christianity to the Anglo Saxons. He and his monks introduced the Christian calendar to Britain, including the Christmas date. The Christian church decreed Christ's birthday be celebrated on December 25, a decision made by the Pope in 336. As Christianity spread across Britain, pagan celebrations were mainly engulfed by or assimilated in to Christmas ritual. Varied Christmas activities were adopted across Britain. In England, people ate frumenty (a type of porridge made from corn) on Christmas morning. The recipe changed over time and eggs, fruit, spice, lumps of meat and dried plums were added. The whole mixture was wrapped in a cloth and boiled. This is the origin of plum pudding. By English tradition, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. On December 26, servants and traders called on their employers for tips of money. They would collect their tips in clay boxes and when the boxes were full, they broke them open and spent the contents. Christmas festivities in Ireland last from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany on 6th January, which is referred to as Little Christmas. Many Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the house. It is also Irish tradition to bake three puddings, one for each key day of the Epiphany - Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night. In Scotland, Christmas has traditionally been celebrated very quietly because the Presbyterian Church places no great emphasis on the date. The season is however enjoyed by many Scots. A popular Scottish festive party involved the building of big bonfires which people could gather round for warmth, dancing and to play bagpipes. A time-honoured Scottish Christmas treat is Bannock cakes made of oatmeal. In Wales, music was vital to the festive celebrations. Christmas morning between 3am and dawn men gathered at churches to sing carols until the cockerel crowed. This was called Plygrain. Taffy making on Christmas Eve was one of the most important festive traditions of the Welsh. Taffy is a special kind of chewy toffee made from brown sugar and butter. It is boiled and then pulled until it becomes lovely and glossy. ENG BMD http://www.bmdindex.co.uk/ Index of births, marriages and deaths - part of on-line facility operated by S&N Genealogy company. ENG CON http://www.cornwall.1800-webhosting.com/cpg/index.php Cornish Graves in other parts of the World. ENG LEI http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells/ The Bottesford Parish Register transcripts now available free online include - Baptisms 1729-1816 Burials 1730-1900 Marriages 1563-1812 Other data available includes maps, directory listings and census transcripts. ENG WAR www.virtualmuseum.co.uk Coventry. ENG WAR Coventry FHS has the 1861 on CD and Fiche for the Coventry area www.covfhs.org Rugby FHG has also indexed/transcribed the 1861 for the Rugby area. http://www.rugbyfhg.co.uk/ RESEARCH http://www.usefulwebs.netfirms.com A site which is helpful for mainly newcomers to Genealogy research which may also help others as well. It has links to only searchable sites for those looking for ancestors in Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and South Africa. UK http://uk.geocities.com/bygonebritain Bygone Britain Collection of vintage postcard views of different parts of the United Kingdom, and photographs of people and groups printed with postcard backs. New Zealand Society of Genealogists – Hamilton Branch http://www.nzsghamilton.co.nz Contact address for subscribing to nzsghamilton news nzsghamiltonnews@ihug.co.nz Bryan A Curran Hamilton, New Zealand