“Donna’s Picks” is my occasional feature to highlight other blogs, posts, or articles that may be of interest to my fellow genealogists. I haven’t posted many picks this year, but several articles caught my eye this week. Because some were in non-genealogy blogs, I wanted to pass them along. Sit back and enjoy the following links:
Christopher Columbus’ Genealogy (psst…don’t tell the Italians!) – Witaj w rodzinie to Christopher Columbus! (That’s Polish for “Welcome to the family.”) Researchers seem to think that the sometimes-Italian, sometimes-Portuguese explorer is descended from the Polish King Władysław III! There are dozens of news stories about the find, which they hope to prove with DNA testing. Read “Christopher Columbus was the son of a Polish king, historian says” from Medieval News on 11/29 and Christopher Columbus discovers…He Is POLISH from Stanczyk – Internet Muse today.
Haunting Images – I found some beautiful black and white photographs of tombstones at The Bow Tie Man (aka Daily Parallax) on 11/30 and 12/1. See them at Magnificent Markers and More Magnificent Markers. He needs to become a Graveyard Rabbit photographer!
Creative Family History – Denise Barrett Olson offers genealogists a great example of a creative way to present your family’s history. See Cecil B. DeMille is Calling, published at Moultrie Creek on 12/1. Get in touch with your inner filmmaker and you’ll have a great Christmas present to give your family!
How to Make Your Friends Jealous – All of us have been admiring Becky Wiseman’s travels for over a year now, and marveling at her beautiful photography. But Becky really made me (and Apple) jealous this week with Ahhh…. with apologies to Apple… published at kinexxions on 11/30. I’ll think of you, Becky, and hope you’re having a great time as I crank up the heat in my house!
The Jesse Tree in an Illuminated Manuscript
‘Tis the Season…to celebrate Jesus’ Family Tree – Advent is here, and one of the ways to celebrate the season is with a Jesse Tree. Jesse was the father of King David, and Jesus’ ancestor. Read more about this tradition in Who is Jesse and Why Should We Care About His Tree? published on 11/28 at Spiritual Woman. A great explanation on the history and ornaments can be found here at Catholic Culture. What’s interesting is that images in art of the Jesse Tree look like a reverse version of a genealogical tree in that Jesse is at the “bottom” of the tree, not at the top. This is depicted due to the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1 in which “a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”
Enjoy the week, and don’t forget to stay tuned at Creative Gene for the 100th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy that will appear this week!
What's Past is Prologue 
You know so much, I love it when you share!
Killa
Great suggested reading list, Donna. Love the illuminated manuscript Jesse Tree! A blessed Advent to you!
Lisa
100 Years in America
Small-leaved Shamrock
A light that shines again
Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture
Jesse wasn’t Jesus’s ancestor. Remember that God was his father. Joseph was his stepfather.
I, for one, absolutely believe that Jesus is the son of God and Joseph was his legal, earthly father. The Incarnation is what Christmas is. But, according to extra-biblical sources, Mary also has Davidic ancestry, and she was his mother. Non-believers think that’s a convenient way to fulfill prophecy, but that’s what faith is all about – you either believe or you don’t! Merry Christmas! Gee, I thought the controversial topic was going to be Christopher’s ancestry…LOL.