Christmas Sale on Archion.de Passes and Vouchers (Gift Certificates): Save 20%

If you have ancestors from Germany who were Evangelische in religion, you may have heard of the Archion.de website. It was founded in 2016 by the Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland with eleven regional Evangelische churches. The website has continued to grow through the years and currently has over 175,000 church books digitized and now over 25 partner archives which include primarily protestant archives as well as archives of dioceses, states, towns and associations.

Archion.de is having its annual Special Christmas Offers -- a 20 percent off sale on 3-month or 1-year passes and vouchers/gutschein. This sale runs from today, December 5, 2025, through Monday, December 8, 2025, 23:59 pm CET which is Monday, December 8, 2025, 5:59 pm ET (our time.) Remember, Germany is six hours ahead of our time.

Passes -- Paid-Access starting from time of purchase.

3-Month Pass is regularly €52.20 now on sale for €41.75 including VAT
This pass allows an individual user to access the digital church book archive for three months (90 days) starting from the date of subscription, as well as up to 150 image (PDF) downloads.

1-Year Pass is regularly €178.80 now on sale for €143 including VAT
This pass allows an individual user to access the digital church book archive for one year (365 days) starting from the date of subscription, as well as up to 600 image (PDF) downloads.

Vouchers/Gutschein -- Pre-paid Coupons/Vouchers/Gift Certificates

3-Month Voucher is regularly €52.20 now on sale for €41.75 including VAT
This voucher allows an individual user to access the digital church book archive for three months (90 days) starting from the date of redemption by the recipient, as well as up to 150 image (PDF) downloads. Vouchers expire two years after their issue date. Except in legally specified cases, vouchers cannot be recharged, re-sold, transferred, or paid out in cash value.

1-Year Voucher is regularly €178.80 now on sale for €143 including VAT
This voucher allows an individual user to access the digital church book archive for one year (365 days) starting from the date of redemption by the recipient, as well as up to 600 image (PDF) downloads. Vouchers expire two years after their issue date. Except in legally specified cases, vouchers cannot be recharged, re-sold, transferred, or paid out in cash value

You must create an account prior to making a purchase. Or be logged in with an existing account. When making your purchase, if you want a pass (which starts immediately) select "Book # Pass Now" but if you want a voucher be sure to scroll down and select "Buy as a Gift Voucher." Purchases can be made using a credit card or PayPal. Passes and Vouchers do not automatically renew.

The Archion website is in German with some English translated website pages. See the DE and EN at the right-side of the top menu bar. You are able to browse the contents of the website for free meaning to see what is available. Uploaded digitized church books are shaded in green. If a location or book is not shaded in green than it is not yet uploaded. The forum boards are also free but you must be logged into the website and have the site in German (DE.)

The church books are organized first by the regional holding archive and the regional division and the parish location where you can then see what records types and time periods are available. At this time the digitized church records are mostly NOT electronically indexed so this is a browse and manually search like you would have done in the days of microfilm. And yes, the record images are in German in that old Schrift handwriting for the most part.

If you know the name of the parish you seek you can search that parish name to see if it comes up. But sometimes spelling matters so a manual search for the parish is suggested on the Archion.de website. Church books are added daily. Generally, in batches from three or so different archives each month. The almost monthly email newsletter usually informs what was recently added, what is currently being added, and what will be added next.

Remember, in Germany records are not centralized so you really need to know your origin village and determine its parish location before jumping across the water to the old country.

Also, remember German time is 6 hours ahead from Eastern Time so take that into account and don't wait for the last minute -- you might be 6 hours late.

See you at our favorite library!
LE

Vivid-Pix Deep Discount Cyber Weekend Pricing Now thru Tues., Dec. 2, 2025

Vivid-Pix has created two deep discount cyber weekend sales that end Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Use discount code FF2025 to get this pricing.

Deep Discount #1

Memory Station Software Patent-pending software, with intuitive interface and large buttons, makes it easy to scan, restore photos and documents, record memories and combine to create stories. Reminiscing about life pulls memories from shoeboxes and memory banks. Individual and Multi-generational re-living of yesterday and yesteryear provides connection and understanding through photo-based activities that are fun – and provide social and health benefits. 

Rather than buying the computer and the software bundle, this uses your existing Windows computer and scanner (even scanner/printers), and scans in archival quality, combines images with new and imported voice and music recordings, creates audio/video stories, transcribes 130 languages audio to text and saves text into image metadata for preservation and sharing. 

Regular price $199.99 so the 50 percent off Friends Price makes is on sale for $100. 

Not sure? There is a free trial of the software. 

Previous Purchasers, be sure to download the free update and user guide: https://www.vivid-pix.com/download/

Deep Discount #2

The Caregiver Bundle makes a great gift for someone you care for -- and -- someone they care for. The Caregiver Bundle includes Memory Station Home Edition Software, Photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) for Families course, and a pre-paid coupon for a 10-pack of Memory Cards.

Purchased separately, providing $319.98 in goods - Friends Price: $149.95 - save over 50%.

FYI: The Photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) For Families and Loved Ones – Joshua Freitas, PhD [No Certification] Designed for paid and unpaid caregivers, this course provides instruction to implement pRT – as described by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Reminiscence Therapy (RT) involves the discussion of past activities, events and experiences with another person or group of people, usually with the aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household,and other familiar items…” Note: it is available as a separate purchase. Regular price is $79.00 for just this course.

A 10-pack of Memory Cards are individualized, professionally printed 5"x7" durable cards you create using a photo and entering in three prompts regarding that photo. Regular price is $39.99.

 

First a caution. Make sure you are seeing the sale pricing you are expecting before clicking the buy button. After adding your item to the cart, go to the cart and click the coupon code and enter this sale's code. The sale price should now show. Did you put in the coupon code correctly? FF2025

The website's Holiday Sale is on its Gift Guide page. That sale runs until January 4, 2026. It has its own discount code, HOLIDAY2025. See our prior post on this sale.

Our Tip #1 is look to the where the home-user level is talked about.

See you soon at our favorite library!
LE

RootsMagic 11 Black Friday Weekend Sale

RootsMagic has started its Black Friday Weekend Sale. This sale ends Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 11:59 pm MT.

RootsMagic first-time purchases for yourself or as a gift ...
$29.95 New or Gift regular price $39.95 so save $10.

RootsMagic prior version owners save on upgrades too
$19.95 Upgrade regular price $39.95 so save 50%.

These are the prices for the download of the software. For a USB with the software add on $10 plus shipping.

RootsMagic runs on Windows or Mac and is a one-time purchase (updates are included) until the next version is released (an upgrade.) There is free support.

There is also a free-version RootsMagic Essentials that allows you to use the program and see if it works for you. See our post about RootsMagic 11's release back in September.

See you at our favorite library!
LE

Legacy Family Tree Webinars Black Friday Sale, Save 50% on Family Tree Webinars

Legacy Family Tree Webinars has started its Black Friday Sale according to an email received this morning. It is offering a one-year membership to the webinar subscription service (regularly $49.95 per year) for first-time members aka new subscribers for $24.98 -- that is 50 percent off! (Note: This sale can not be combined with other discounts.)

 

This is a limited-time offer! The 50% OFF Holiday Sale begins Nov 23, 2025, and expires Sunday, Nov 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm MT. Don't miss your chance to secure the best pricing of the year!

Surprisingly, the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website does not yet reflect the Black Friday pricing. But the coupon code holiday2025 does appear to work.

Family Tree Webinars Membership gets you 24/7 access to over 2,500+ full-length webinars/classes covering a very wide variety of genealogy-related subjects and the handouts/syllabus to those webinars/classes.

See you at our favorite library!
LE

MyHeritage DNA Black Friday Sale Lowest Price EVER! $25 until Dec. 28 at 11:59 pm

This morning MyHeritage released its Black Friday Sale that ends November 28, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. The autosomal DNA test is regularly $89. It is now its LOWEST PRICE EVER at $25.

There are two options:

MyHeritage DNA test for $25, plus taxes and shipping. Usually there is an offer to purchase two test kits and get free standard shipping.

MyHeritage DNA test plus 30-day Complete free trail* for $25, plus taxes and free shipping.

*After 30 days, you'll enjoy a 50% discount and be charged $299 $149 for the first year. The Complete subscription renews annually. You can cancel anytime.

Remember, MyHeritage ended its DNA uploads of DNA test data from other DNA genealogy testing sites back in August 2025. So now you do have to test directly with MyHeritage DNA.

In October MyHeritage announced it is transitioning to Whole Genome Sequencing of its MyHeritage DNA tests. We mentioned it in this post. Though this morning's email announcing this sale mentions the whole genome sequencing BUT we have found no official confirmations that all tests received are now being processed as whole genome sequencing. It is supposed to happen before the end of the year. We suggest taking advantage of the lowest price ever sale and if possible holding off taking the test and sending it in until we can confirm all DNA samples will be processed with Whole Genome Sequencing.

Of course, if that elder family member or a specific family member and time or availability is the issue, do the test before you can't do it. 

As soon as we hear that all DNA samples are processed with Whole Genome Sequencing we will let you know.

So get your MyHeritage DNA kit on sale and hold off taking it (if possible) until MyHeritage announces that all tests will be processed with Whole Genome Sequencing. 

See you at our favorite library!
LE 

 

MCGG's December Meetings -- Join Us!

A reminder about our Macomb County Genealogy Group December 2025 meetings.

MCGG meets in-person on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 12 p.m.* 
in the Auditorium B/C of the Mount Clemens Public Library. It is our ... MCGG and Let's Talk...Genealogy Groups Combined Annual Holiday Potluck.

Bring a dish to share and join the fun! *For this meeting we start at noon.

MCGG Let's Talk...Genealogy discussion group meets in-person (hybrid) Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Local History & Genealogy Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library. Our topic is ... Comparing Our Paper and DNA Ethnicity Results Update.

Almost all of the genealogy DNA testing companies have recently updated their ethnicity estimates again. Let’s talk about comparing our Ancestor Birthplace Pedigree Charts/Locality Pedigrees to our new DNA Ethnicity Results and why these may not match up. Are the new results better than in 2024?

There is a pre-meeting assignment for this topic so those attending can more fully participate. This assignment will be sent out to our mailing list the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Our plan is that our meetings will be hybrid meaning the meeting will be in-person with a virtual Zoom option. The Zoom meeting link (or registration link) will now be found on our Southeast Michigan Genealogy Events Calendar and our Facebook page. The link will usually be added the night before or morning of the meeting. Members will receive a reminder email with the Zoom invite or a reminder that registration is required for a meeting.

New attendees are always welcome.

See you at our favorite library!
LE

AncestryDNA Lowest Price Ever - $29 - Until Tues., Dec. 2, 2025, 10 am ET

Ancestry's Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale on AncestryDNA has started and runs until Tues., December 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Remember taxes and shipping are extra. The regular price of an AncestryDNA test is $99.

There are three options with this sale.

Just the AncestryDNA test is on sale for $29.

For new subscribers or those without a current active subscription:

The AncestryDNA test and a World Explorer Membership for $1 has a total sale price of $30.

The AncestryDNA test and an All-Access Membership for $10 has a total sale price of $39.

These subscription memberships will renew at regular prices every three months until you cancel.

*Offers end 2 Dec 2025 at 10am ET. Excludes shipping. Package offers are for new and returning subscribers only and not for renewal of current subscriptions. Limit one $1 subscription per user. Your World Explorer subscription will automatically renew at $99.95 or your All Access subscription will automatically renew at $149 every 3 months until you cancel by visiting your Account Settings or by contacting us. See our Renewal and Cancellation Terms for further details.

See our prior posts on AncestryDNA for the changes in what you can access for your DNA test without an Ancestry member subscription and what you can not. You can also see past sale trends by selecting the topic label in the left column of this blog (for example, AncestryDNA) to see all past posts regarding AncestryDNA.

Good luck finding the sales you need!

See you at our favorite library!
LE