[AZORES-Genealogy] Peter(s) from Madeira to Hawaii

[Cheri Mello]

Repost for Marilyn Melenin:  waterfalls51 at gmail.com

Hi I am searching my grandfather Manuel Jesus Peter (s) from Madeira,
Portugal. That's all I am familiar with. He died here in Hawaii. M Jose
His birth about 1840.

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[helen kerner]

 
Linda, you are correct about the naming conventions during the time of baptism 
in years past.  My Mom was born in November and baptized on January 6th.  She 
was born Maria Cabral Andrade and when she was baptized on the 6th of January 
she became known as Maria dos Reis Cabral Andrade as was the custom of the time.
 
January 6th was always more important than December 25 when I was growing up.  
All of my Azorean relatives celebrated it and the traditional Bolo Rei was part 
of the season much like sopas are at the festas.
 
For most, Christmas is over by December 26 and life has resumed its normal 
activities. The Church, on the other hand, observes an Octave of Christmas 
until 
January 1 (after the Jewish practice of an 8 day celebration) and an extended 
Christmastime until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. (It is now celebrated 
on Sunday between January 2 and January 8.) The popular Christmas song, "The 
Twelve Days of Christmas," is rooted in festive celebration of Christmastime 
and 
a celebration of the Catholic faith, from a time in England and Ireland when 
Catholics had to disguise their Catholic beliefs.


The Epiphany is the high point of Christmas and the fulfillment of Advent. It 
is 
the ancient Feast of Christ the King. Its dignity in the liturgy is superior to 
that of Christmas. Because the feast commemorates the baptism of Jesus, its 
vigil has long been a day for solemn Baptism. In the present division of the 
Church year, the baptism of our Lord in the Jordan is commemorated on the 
octave 
day of the Epiphany. 

Its primary significance is the closing of the Christmas season with the 
celebration of the visit of the Magi to the manger (Matthew 2:1-12). 

TUESDAY brought Twelfth Night, a rich part of Christmas traditions that the 
majority of Americans tend to downplay.
For example, in 19th-Century America, fresh fruits were rare treats in the 
winter months and often were used to decorate homes for Christmas—then they 
were 
eagerly consumed as families reached Twelfth Night festivities and headed into 
Epiphany. Bolo Rei is a traditional Portugese pastry 
(http://www.gastronomias.com/index.html) enjoyed in this part of the season. 
Generally, a whole lot of Christmas merriment historically was focused on this 
eve of Epiphany.
 
Wikipedia has good info about Bolo Rei.
 
Jean Anderson (The Food of Portugal) also has a good explantion of Bolo Rei 
along with a recipe.
 
The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361, by 
Ammianus Marcellinus[11] St. Epiphanius says that January 6 is hemera 
genethlion 
toutestin epiphanion (Christ's "Birthday; that is, His Epiphany").
 
Wikipedia has good details about Epiphany.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6: It’s the visitation of the Magi that most Christians 
recognize today, but the feast of Epiphany runs much, much deeper than that: 
Today, officially, is the high point that Christians have been waiting for 
throughout Advent and the Christmas season. (Read more at the Global Catholic 
Network.)
This may not be stressed in many modern churchs, for example, but Christian 
tradition holds that the visit of the Magi represents the first non-Jewish 
worship of Jesus, revealing Jesus’ larger religious mission. The very word 
“Epiphany” translates from a Greek word meaning “appearance” or 
“manifestation”—and referring, of course, to the infant Jesus Christ.
Customs abound on this important Christian holiday! In Russia and other 
primarily Orthodox Christian countries, priests place a cross in a body of 
water 
and perform the “Great Blessings of Waters,” and where Church waters are 
blessed, parishioners usually take the water home to bless their residences. In 
Western Christian regions, “king cakes” are often baked and eaten, and some 
devotees exchange gifts in representation of the Magi. (These remembrances 
haven’t disappeared from Western church, but they have evolved over the 
centuries—some American Protestant churches will remember baptism on Sunday, 
January 9, for example.)
In parts of Europe, children walk door-to-door and sing songs to receive a coin 
or sweet at each home; in some areas, a puff pastry is baked with a bean 
inside, 
and the recipient of the bean is king or queen for the day (similarly to older 
Twelfth Night traditions). Puerto Rican children often place a box with hay 
beneath their beds, for the Magi’s camels, similarly to American children’s 
milk 
and cookies for Santa; and in Mexico, children often leave a letter near a pair 
of shoes for the Three Kings, hoping for new toys and treats. Americans love to 
have fun and a few events in the U.S. have become downright silly: In Colorado, 
there is a Great Fruitcake Toss on Epiphany! In Louisiana, the Carnival season 
begins and counts down to Mardi Gras.


From: Linda Norton 
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thu, January 6, 2011 1:56:44 PM
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos


That's like my mother n

Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[arleneavo]

It was that way for us too, Mary Ann.  My decorations are still up until after 
the 6th.

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, cakemom...@aol.com  wrote:


From: cakemom...@aol.com 
Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 10:18 AM



When I was growing up, the Feast of the epiphany was always a special day.  It 
was considered the end of the Christmas celebration and our Christmas tree and 
decorations never came down before January 6th.
 
Mary Ann M.
 

In a message dated 1/6/2011 6:54:03 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
bretanha1...@gmail.com writes:
Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos
Reis Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season
and in some countries, this day has a greater importance then
Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima
bean, and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift
that His Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a
lima bean in the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits
like dates and raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of
the New Year festivities.

The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas,
transforming itself according to the customs and resources of our
country, where it eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is
decorated with pieces of orange and lime, and is filled with nuts,
figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather
around their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of
finding a lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing
Jesus is placed in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of
bread with this doll inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta
de la Candelaria on February 2.  This celebration is the last of the
Christmas festivities, 40 days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time
"magicians", although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far
east the birth of a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they
discovered the meaning behind the star:  a savior had been born.  They
traveled to Bethlehem, and along the way they found the King Herod,
whom they told of the birth of the new King.  Herod ordered them to
find the baby and return to give the news of the place where the
little Messiah had been born.

  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers,
and they offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the
spiritual wealth of the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth
and the sky; and Myrrh, the oil which was used for medicinal as well
as spiritual purposes.  Upon their return, an angel warned them that
they should not tell King Herod about the birth of Jesus because his
plan was to kill the baby.  So the three wise men returned by way of a
different path to their homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on
earth to the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.


-- 
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that 
says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Linda Norton]

That's like my mother named Ines Estrella born January 21, 1926 and she had
said they never registered birthdates immediately so because her name was
Estrella and they named you after saints or feasts or around holidays, she
always said she was born around little Christmas/three kings named from the
star (estrella) they followed. I think if she was born around the 21st it
would have been Candelaria which is part of that feast.
 
I have many cousins who said what they had as birthdates were probably not
accurate since registering/recording the time of birth was not something
urgent.
 
My aunt is Conceicao born Dec. 8 because of the Immaculate Conception as my
grandmother born April 5 was Maria de Resurreicao named after the
resurrection.
 
Linda Borges Furtado Norton
 

  _  

From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
celeste perry
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 4:06 PM
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos



For me, this day has a relation to my search for ancestors.  I was raised in
my maternal grandparent's home.  This grandfather immigrated from
Tras-os-Montes on the continent of Portugal.  He could neither read nor
write.
 
We always celebrated his birthday on December 26th.  He thought he had been
born on Dec. 26, 1875.  When I visited the archive in Braganca, I found that
he had been born the day after Christmas, as he and we thought.  The
difference was that he was born on Jan. 7, 1876.  Obviously we did not know
that in his part of the word, Christmas was celebrated in a different month,
day and in his case, year.
 
The more I know of customs and history, the easier it is to continue the
search for ancestors.
 
Celeste, Hayward, CA

Celeste Perry ccgran...@yahoo.com

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, Sam Koester  wrote:



From: Sam Koester 
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 8:57 AM


George, I want to thank you for sharing this information.  I am currently
living in Mazatlan and learning the Mexican traditions and the one you speak
of is definitely practiced here though it had not been explained so fully to
me before this.  I was brought up in the Catholic faith and am full blooded
Azorean though 2nd generation American.  I had never before heard of this
celebration on the 6th of January nor of the cake, etc.  It is interesting
learning how others celebrate/memorialize the events surrounding the birth
of Christ.  BTW, I tasted a sample of this cake in the local grocery store
and it was delicious!

Thanks again for sharing, Sam in Maz

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com

[mailto:azores@googlegroups.com
 ] On
Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 7:51 AM
To: Azores-Gen
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
festivities.

The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
the place where the little Messiah had been born.

  The

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Linda Norton]

That makes sense since my Godmother gave me a presepio back in the 50's
which included Jesus in the crib of straw, Mary, Joseph, cow, donkey,
shepard and sheeps. plus the three kings. I want to say they were made of
plaster paris.
 
Thanks.
 
Linda

  _  

From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
celeste perry
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 3:39 PM
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos



The crib of straw  is called a manjedoura.   Stable is called a palheiro.
The entire stable, Jesus in the manger and Mary & Joseph  with the cow,
donkey, and sheepis called  a presepio.   
 
This is from my friend who was born in Terceira.  Maybe in another place
they are known by other names.  Celeste, Hayward, CA

Celeste Perry ccgran...@yahoo.com

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, Linda Norton  wrote:



From: Linda Norton 
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 12:14 PM


I know of this and keep my tree and manger up for the celebration where so
many do not.

Thank you for letting everyone know how important this day is.

Question, I call the manger a prasape (is that correct spelling and
pronunciation?)

Linda 

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com

[mailto:azores@googlegroups.com
 ] On
Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 9:51 AM
To: Azores-Gen
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
festivities.

The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
the place where the little Messiah had been born.

  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and they
offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual wealth of
the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the sky; and Myrrh,
the oil which was used for medicinal as well as spiritual purposes.  Upon
their return, an angel warned them that they should not tell King Herod
about the birth of Jesus because his plan was to kill the baby.  So the
three wise men returned by way of a different path to their homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on earth to
the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.


--
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com

.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com

.  Follow t

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[celeste perry]

For me, this day has a relation to my search for ancestors.  I was raised in my 
maternal grandparent's home.  This grandfather immigrated from Tras-os-Montes 
on the continent of Portugal.  He could neither read nor write.
 
We always celebrated his birthday on December 26th.  He thought he had been 
born on Dec. 26, 1875.  When I visited the archive in Braganca, I found that he 
had been born the day after Christmas, as he and we thought.  The difference 
was that he was born on Jan. 7, 1876.  Obviously we did not know that in his 
part of the word, Christmas was celebrated in a different month, day and in his 
case, year.
 
The more I know of customs and history, the easier it is to continue the search 
for ancestors.
 
Celeste, Hayward, CA

Celeste Perry ccgran...@yahoo.com

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, Sam Koester  wrote:


From: Sam Koester 
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 8:57 AM


George, I want to thank you for sharing this information.  I am currently
living in Mazatlan and learning the Mexican traditions and the one you speak
of is definitely practiced here though it had not been explained so fully to
me before this.  I was brought up in the Catholic faith and am full blooded
Azorean though 2nd generation American.  I had never before heard of this
celebration on the 6th of January nor of the cake, etc.  It is interesting
learning how others celebrate/memorialize the events surrounding the birth
of Christ.  BTW, I tasted a sample of this cake in the local grocery store
and it was delicious!

Thanks again for sharing, Sam in Maz

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 7:51 AM
To: Azores-Gen
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
festivities.

The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
the place where the little Messiah had been born.

  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and they
offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual wealth of
the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the sky; and Myrrh,
the oil which was used for medicinal as well as spiritual purposes.  Upon
their return, an angel warned them that they should not tell King Herod
about the birth of Jesus because his plan was to kill the baby.  So the
three wise men returned by way of a different path to their homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on earth to
the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.


--
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe f

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[celeste perry]

The crib of straw  is called a manjedoura.   Stable is called a palheiro.  The 
entire stable, Jesus in the manger and Mary & Joseph  with the cow, donkey, and 
sheepis called  a presepio.   
 
This is from my friend who was born in Terceira.  Maybe in another place they 
are known by other names.  Celeste, Hayward, CA

Celeste Perry ccgran...@yahoo.com

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, Linda Norton  wrote:


From: Linda Norton 
Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 12:14 PM


I know of this and keep my tree and manger up for the celebration where so
many do not.

Thank you for letting everyone know how important this day is.

Question, I call the manger a prasape (is that correct spelling and
pronunciation?)

Linda 

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 9:51 AM
To: Azores-Gen
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
festivities.

The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
the place where the little Messiah had been born.

  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and they
offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual wealth of
the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the sky; and Myrrh,
the oil which was used for medicinal as well as spiritual purposes.  Upon
their return, an angel warned them that they should not tell King Herod
about the birth of Jesus because his plan was to kill the baby.  So the
three wise men returned by way of a different path to their homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on earth to
the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.


--
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."



  

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Linda Norton]

Thank you! 

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 3:17 PM
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

presépio


On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 3:14 PM, Linda Norton  wrote:
> I know of this and keep my tree and manger up for the celebration 
> where so many do not.
>
> Thank you for letting everyone know how important this day is.
>
> Question, I call the manger a prasape (is that correct spelling and
> pronunciation?)
>
> Linda
>
> -Original Message-
> From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On 
> Behalf Of George Pacheco
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 9:51 AM
> To: Azores-Gen
> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
>
> Hello everyone
>
> I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos 
> Reis Magos.
>
> It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking 
> countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season 
> and in some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.
>
>
> 
> During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima 
> bean, and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift 
> that His Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a 
> lima bean in the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits 
> like dates and raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of 
> the New Year festivities.
>
>  The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, 
> transforming itself according to the customs and resources of our 
> country, where it eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is 
> decorated with pieces of orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, 
> figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate accompanies the rosca.
>
>  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around 
> their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding 
> a lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is 
> placed in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with 
> this doll inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la 
> Candelaria on February 2.  This celebration is the last of the 
> Christmas festivities, 40 days after Jesus's birth.
>
>
>
> According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time 
> "magicians", although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far 
> east the birth of a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they 
> discovered the meaning behind the star:  a savior had been born.  They 
> traveled to Bethlehem, and along the way they found the King Herod, 
> whom they told of the birth of the new King.  Herod ordered them to 
> find the baby and return to give the news of the place where the little
Messiah had been born.
>
>  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and 
> they offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual 
> wealth of the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the 
> sky; and Myrrh, the oil which was used for medicinal as well as 
> spiritual purposes.  Upon their return, an angel warned them that they 
> should not tell King Herod about the birth of Jesus because his plan 
> was to kill the baby.  So the three wise men returned by way of a
different path to their homeland.
>
>
>
> So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on 
> earth to the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.
>
>
> --
> http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/
>
> --
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation 
> Azores+directions
> when they arrive.
> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No 
> Mail
> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the 
> right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my
membership."
>
> --
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."



--
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Butte County

[Linda Norton]

Thank you. I know of a great aunt who went to CA with her husband and my
father said no one ever heard back from her. Her name was Amelia or Emilia
Furtado m. ? Morais. She was born between 1887-1897 in Ribeira Grande, Sao
Miguel. Parents Marianno Furtado and Maria do Carmo.
 
Anything would be great.
 
Thanks.
 
Linda Borges Furtado Norton

  _  

From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
Lionel Holmes
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 2:19 PM
To: azores@googlegroups.com
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Butte County


If anybody is interested, I've extracted the Butte County, CA,
Naturalization Declarations of Intention records for the years 1843=1929,
and would be pleased to look up any names wanted.

Lionel Rocha Holmes


-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." 

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[George Pacheco]

presépio


On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 3:14 PM, Linda Norton  wrote:
> I know of this and keep my tree and manger up for the celebration where so
> many do not.
>
> Thank you for letting everyone know how important this day is.
>
> Question, I call the manger a prasape (is that correct spelling and
> pronunciation?)
>
> Linda
>
> -Original Message-
> From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
> George Pacheco
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 9:51 AM
> To: Azores-Gen
> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos
>
> Hello everyone
>
> I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
> Magos.
>
> It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
> countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
> some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.
>
>
> 
> During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
> and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
> Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
> the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
> raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
> festivities.
>
>  The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
> itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
> eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
> orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
> accompanies the rosca.
>
>  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
> their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
> lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
> in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
> inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
> February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
> days after Jesus's birth.
>
>
>
> According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
> although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
> a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
> the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
> the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
> King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
> the place where the little Messiah had been born.
>
>  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and they
> offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual wealth of
> the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the sky; and Myrrh,
> the oil which was used for medicinal as well as spiritual purposes.  Upon
> their return, an angel warned them that they should not tell King Herod
> about the birth of Jesus because his plan was to kill the baby.  So the
> three wise men returned by way of a different path to their homeland.
>
>
>
> So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on earth to
> the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.
>
>
> --
> http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/
>
> --
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
> when they arrive.
> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
> that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
>
> --
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
> azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
> they arrive.
> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
> that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."



-- 
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Linda Norton]

I know of this and keep my tree and manger up for the celebration where so
many do not.

Thank you for letting everyone know how important this day is.

Question, I call the manger a prasape (is that correct spelling and
pronunciation?)

Linda 

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 9:51 AM
To: Azores-Gen
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
festivities.

 The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
the place where the little Messiah had been born.

  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and they
offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual wealth of
the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the sky; and Myrrh,
the oil which was used for medicinal as well as spiritual purposes.  Upon
their return, an angel warned them that they should not tell King Herod
about the birth of Jesus because his plan was to kill the baby.  So the
three wise men returned by way of a different path to their homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on earth to
the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.


--
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

[AZORES-Genealogy] Butte County

[Lionel Holmes]

If anybody is interested, I've extracted the Butte County, CA,
Naturalization Declarations of Intention records for the years 1843=1929,
and would be pleased to look up any names wanted.

Lionel Rocha Holmes

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Cakemom102]

When I was growing up, the Feast of the epiphany was always a special  day. 
 It was considered the end of the Christmas celebration and our  Christmas 
tree and decorations never came down before January 6th.
 
Mary Ann M.
 
 
In a message dated 1/6/2011 6:54:03 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
bretanha1...@gmail.com writes:

Hello  everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings -  Dia dos
Reis Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese  and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the  Christmas season
and in some countries, this day has a greater importance  then
Christmas.



During the era of  the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima
bean, and the person who  found it in his bread would receive the gift
that His Highness had prepared  for the event.  The idea was to place a
lima bean in the bread dough,  which was usually filled with fruits
like dates and raisins, and this bread  was shared around the time of
the New Year festivities.

The  tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas,
transforming  itself according to the customs and resources of our
country, where it  eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is
decorated with pieces  of orange and lime, and is filled with nuts,
figs, and cherries. Hot  chocolate accompanies the rosca.

So every year, on January 6,  families all across Mexico gather
around their tables to share the rosca de  reyes.  And now, instead of
finding a lima bean in the bread, a little  plastic doll representing
Jesus is placed in the bread.  The person  who receives a piece of
bread with this doll inside has to make the tamales  used in the fiesta
de la Candelaria on February 2.  This celebration  is the last of the
Christmas festivities, 40 days after Jesus's  birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in  that time
"magicians", although they were actually astronomers) saw from  the far
east the birth of a star over the town of Bethlehem, and  they
discovered the meaning behind the star:  a savior had been  born.  They
traveled to Bethlehem, and along the way they found the  King Herod,
whom they told of the birth of the new King.  Herod  ordered them to
find the baby and return to give the news of the place  where the
little Messiah had been born.

The three wise men  found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers,
and they offered him three  gifts:  gold, which represented the
spiritual wealth of the child;  frankincense, which signifies the earth
and the sky; and Myrrh, the oil  which was used for medicinal as well
as spiritual purposes.  Upon  their return, an angel warned them that
they should not tell King Herod  about the birth of Jesus because his
plan was to kill the baby.  So  the three wise men returned by way of a
different path to their  homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía  (manifestation) of God on
earth to the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings  nor magicians.


--  
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

-- 
To unsubscribe from  this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow  the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as  changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your  Google account and visit this group at  
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the  right 
that 
says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my  membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Sam Koester]

George, I want to thank you for sharing this information.  I am currently
living in Mazatlan and learning the Mexican traditions and the one you speak
of is definitely practiced here though it had not been explained so fully to
me before this.  I was brought up in the Catholic faith and am full blooded
Azorean though 2nd generation American.  I had never before heard of this
celebration on the 6th of January nor of the cake, etc.  It is interesting
learning how others celebrate/memorialize the events surrounding the birth
of Christ.  BTW, I tasted a sample of this cake in the local grocery store
and it was delicious!

Thanks again for sharing, Sam in Maz

-Original Message-
From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
George Pacheco
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 7:51 AM
To: Azores-Gen
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

Hello everyone

I want to wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos Reis
Magos.

It is a day that is celebrated in all Portuguese and Spanish speaking
countries. It is the celebration of the end of the Christmas season and in
some countries, this day has a greater importance then Christmas.



During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean,
and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His
Highness had prepared for the event.  The idea was to place a lima bean in
the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and
raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year
festivities.

 The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming
itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it
eventually became the rosca.  Here the rosca is decorated with pieces of
orange and lime, and is filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Hot chocolate
accompanies the rosca.

  So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around
their tables to share the rosca de reyes.  And now, instead of finding a
lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed
in the bread.  The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll
inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2.  This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities, 40
days after Jesus's birth.



According to the story, the three Wise Men (called in that time "magicians",
although they were actually astronomers) saw from the far east the birth of
a star over the town of Bethlehem, and they discovered the meaning behind
the star:  a savior had been born.  They traveled to Bethlehem, and along
the way they found the King Herod, whom they told of the birth of the new
King.  Herod ordered them to find the baby and return to give the news of
the place where the little Messiah had been born.

  The three wise men found the baby in a manger, adored by shapers, and they
offered him three gifts:  gold, which represented the spiritual wealth of
the child; frankincense, which signifies the earth and the sky; and Myrrh,
the oil which was used for medicinal as well as spiritual purposes.  Upon
their return, an angel warned them that they should not tell King Herod
about the birth of Jesus because his plan was to kill the baby.  So the
three wise men returned by way of a different path to their homeland.



So every year we celebrate the Epifanía (manifestation) of God on earth to
the Reyes Magos...who were neither kings nor magicians.


--
http://www.geocities.com/bretanha1954/

--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions
when they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Dia dos Reis Magos

[Emacadi]

Yes, George, it is a holiday in most of the Catholic Countries.  The  day 
of the Wise Men. "To the blare of trumpets" the Pope said "The Mass of  the 
Epiphany"  this morning at the Vatican. It is a big holiday in  Italy.  It is 
the day children  in Catholic countries receive most of  their gifts from 
the Wise Men.- not from Santa Claus.  Many celebrate this  day with a cake 
and buried in the cake is a tiny Christ doll.  Whoever gets  the tiny Christ 
doll in his piece of cake  has to give a party.  
 
 
In a message dated 1/6/2011 6:57:29 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
bretanha1...@gmail.com writes:

want to  wish everyone a wonderful - Day of The Three Kings - Dia dos
Reis  Magos.


-- 
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.  Follow the confirmation directions when 
they arrive.
For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail 
(vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Azores.  Click in the blue area on the right 
that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."