Halloween, A Celebration of Ancestors

Dear Friend,

Many people may not realize that the earliest observation of Halloween was as a Celtic celebration of appreciation for their ancestors.

Samhuinn, which extended from 31 October to 2 November, was a time Celtic Druids set aside to free themselves from the constraints of their normally highly structured society. The people would show their lack of inhibition by wearing strange clothing and playing pranks, while children would knock on neighbors' doors asking for treats. These activities, however, were not central to the celebration. What was most important to the Druids was the belief that on these days contact could be made with departed spirits, and guidance or inspiration received. Therefore, the dead were not feared, but celebrated as loving guardians and guides. Ultimately, the days of Samhuinn were renamed by early Christians to be Hallowe'en (31 October), All Hallows [All Saints Day] (1 November), and All Souls Day (2 November).

We at Ancestry.com salute the desire to celebrate one's ancestors. And in this week's Product Watch we are offering special discounts on items uniquely suited to locating ancestors that may have lived in or near the Celtic regions where this ancient celebration originated.

Enjoy life,
-Sylvia



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Last week's Product Watch offers can be seen at:
http://www.ancestry.com/productwatch/landing/ PW20031024.htm
This week's offers end November 13, 2003.

You can view help information and submit questions at: http://ancestry.custhelp.com.
Please send your product suggestions or comments to Sylvia Hanks at pwatch@ancestry.com.
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Spotlight Item

 

Your English Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans
At long last!! A book on British genealogy written specifically for a North American audience! Your English Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans, by Sherry Irvine, is the first book to provide a logical research routine for family historians based in North America! This unusual resource clearly and simply details the many research facilities and research sources available ...
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Irish Records: Sources for Family & Local History
Were your European ancestors Irish, German, English, Scottish or Italian? Choose Irish Records or one of our other European resources that will help you with your foreign research. Each author offers practical advice about the complexities of foreign records.

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The Clans of Ireland
Explore your Irish family heritage in a wonderful new way! Put “The Clans of Ireland – Where they Began” in your CD drive and take a virtual tour through the history and landscape of Ireland, gaining an overview of surname and clan origins along the way. (...(more info)

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Ireland CultureGram
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Northern Ireland CultureGram
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Irish in the 1870 Census
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Irish Parish Records: Antrim, Down, Louth
The 435,008 records in this database come from cemetery tombstone transcriptions and similar sources in the counties of Antrim, Down, and Louth around 1538 to 1837. Parish records like these cemetery records can provide the best source of vital record information in the centuries before civil registration.

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British Origins of American Colonists, 1629-1775
William Dollarhide identifies the British origins of four migration groups to colonial America before the Revolutionary War: East Anglican Puritans to New England, West Country Cavaliers and their servants to the Chesapeake, North Midland Quakers to the Delaware Valley, and British and Scottish Borderers to the American Backwoods.

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Cambridge University Alumni 1290-1900 (CD Win)
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English Parish Records: London
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English Parish Records: Lancashire (General & Amounderness & Lonsdale Hundreds)
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English Parish Records: Shropshire (Hereford Diocese), Herefordshire
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English Parish Records: Yorkshire (East Riding)
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Your Scottish Ancestry: Revised Second Edition
The world of genealogical research has changed dramatically in the five years since this book debuted. Scottish Ancestry is a complete reference of records and techniques for Scottish research with an insider's perspective to searching for information about Scottish Ancestors. In this revised second edition, Sherry Irvine mixes her award- winning methodology with up-to-date instruction on how to utilize the latest computer and Internet sources for Scottish research. She also broadens the scope f...(more info)

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Scottish Parish Records: Scotland (General)
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Scottish Parish Records: Scotland North
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Looking for lost 1890 census records?Look no further! With 1,282,836 records, New England States Directories is the verifiable substitute for lost census records! New England States City Directories are a part of Ancestry’s efforts to provide substitute records for the destroyed 1890 census. When a basement fire in the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C. destroyed most of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census, a valuable source of information was lost to researchers of America's past. Ancestry, with...(more info)

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Massachusetts Vital Records 1690- 1890
A Million-Name Treasury of Massachusetts- Your ancestors could be one or more in a million! Search a million cemetery, birth, death, and marriage records, newspapers and city vital records from across the state of Massachusetts. These records, collected by the New England Historical Society cover two centuries of Massachusetts. Contents & Features: - Over one million records from 14 counties - Search by names, dates, locations, and more - Historical background, FAQs, and other help t...(more info)

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New York Births & Baptisms CD (Windows)
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