Significant updates have been made to my website. See photos, maps and text from early references in my "Early Records" page which commences the story of LANE/ LAIN(E)s of the parish of Lissan of Co. Tyrone. This family travelled to Belfast in the 1840's, then to Newcastle upon Tyne, England and Auckland New Zealand after 1875. LANEs married MOORE (in Co. Tyrone), STRONG (in Belfast), DAVIDSON and STRONG (in Co. Durham) . Any comments, suggestions or information would be gratefully received. The address is: http://www.pnc.com.au/~plstrong/ -- **Philip Strong**Email:plstrong@pnc.com.au**Blue Mountains, Australia**

A Traditional Irish Christmas The Traditional year in Ireland provides a calendar of customs based on Folk Tradition dating back to its Neolithic farming ancestors of six thousand years ago. The Feast of Christmas recalls the joy of Christendom at the birth of the Saviour, a rejoicing fully enjoyed by Irish tradition. There is the lighting of the Christmas candle by the youngest child to welcome the Holy Family into the home. There are the titbits given to the animals in memory of the first to adore Him, the ox and the ass of Bethlehem. There is the churchgoing, the visit to the Crib, the presents and feasting. But behind that there are the echoes of the older festival of Midwinter. What other explanation couth there be for the Hunting of the Wren on St Stephens Day, 26th December, when groups of young men, gaily dressed and playing music from house to house ( or pub to pub) announcing they have killed 'The Wran, the Wran, the king of all Bird's and requesting contributions toward his burial? Needless to say the money gathered is spent on a party with plenty of music, dancing, eating and drinking. And what of Christmas Rhymers or Mummers, a group of young men who perform a little play, the main feature of which is a duel between two champions, in which one is killed to be revived again by a skilled Doctor. Is this, as some think, a survival of some ancient ceremony representing the death of the Old year and the revival of the New? The questions will always be asked - How did it all begin? Passed down through more than 200 generations, some of the festivals are so old that one can only guess where such a rich assembly of belief, custom and ceremonial, of story, song and prophecy came from in the first place. But I do recall my first Christmas in Arklow, Co Wicklow, a trip to Dublin to see the lights spectacular, and the shortest of days, returning to a coal fire, and a warm toddy, memories, that remain with me long after the event. And a longing to be there now, with my extended family and friends, but this year its Christmas in Tasmania again, no so bad, the weather doing a really Irish jig, one day fine the next so cold. But to each and every lister, wherever you are, in the world , whatever you may or may not be doing for Christmas I with my (himself) and family would like to take this moment in time to wish you all a Merry Christmas- And good luck in your pursuit of your Irish ancestors. Cara, Himself, and the rest of the family