Monday, December 22, 2014

THE PA MELTING POT: 7-2 B SPECIAL COLUMN - ODE TO SLOVAK FOLK CRAFTS IN SW PA.


The Melting Pot: A look at the evolution of food in 
southwestern Pa.:
 Special Column:  Ode to the Slovak Folk Crafts Shoppe in Grove City, PA

I received a letter in December of 2014  because I had been a previous customer of this establishment where I had purchased an ethnic cook book and a CD-ROM of the LARGE animated woodcarving (which filled a room – 17 feet across) from Slovakia.  The Shoppe opened in 2000 and closed in 2014 “to help the people of Slovakia (Czechoslovakia and Slovakia) in the difficult transition from a communist to a free-market economy”.

The Shoppe had offered handcrafts made by artisans in over 30 other countries including the US.  Customers from all 50 states, most of the Canadian provinces and 23 other countries have purchased over 32,000 decorated eggs.  

The Slovaks settled in three western PA counties (Allegheny, Fayette and Westmoreland) to build better lives & to escape oppression under Austro-Hungarian rule.  They became miners (in 1891 18,000 Slovak miners went on strike in Connellsville protesting exploitation and a cut in wages) and steel workers.  In Pittsburgh the Slovak-Americans were the 5th largest group after the Germans, Italians, Irishmen, and Poles. Hazelwood, North Braddock, West Mifflin, and Duquesne had 24% – 54% residents with Slovak ancestry in 1990.  According to the 2000 U.S. census (nationalities not addressed in 2010 census) there were 797,764 people of Slovak heritage living in the United States. Pennsylvania ranks first of the 50 states with 30.5% of these residents. Pittsburgh has 105,525, making it the #1 city in the world for people of Slovak heritage outside of Slovakia itself.   

They arrived during the Industrial Revolution and by 1907 almost 57 % of Pittsburgh steel workers were Slovaks who settled in Homestead and Munhall.  With wages so low for unskilled workers they chose poor housing and took in boarders to afford food.  Most of the foods served were meats and breads since the women didn’t have time to prepare expensive vegetables while taking care of their families, their homes and boarders. They spent 46 % of their income on food!  Most of their activities were centered around weddings, the church, holidays and their families. Food was a crucial part of Slovak life and key in this environment.


As they assimilated into their new country they got reputations as hard workers, reliable, patriotic and honest.  The Slovaks keep tradition alive and participate in the Pittsburgh Folk Festival every year in May.  There are three Slovakian societies in Pittsburgh also.

Common foods were and are:  Staromodny Zemiakova Polievka (old fashioned potato soup), Sladky Dezert Polievka (sweet dessert soup), Pulnina (veal loaf), Viancne Bean Jedlo (Christmas bean dish), Matice Vojne (nut rolls), Cirek (Easter cheese), Nove Matky Jacmen Polievka (new mother’s barley soup), Vianocne Kysla Hubova Polievka (Christmas sour mushroom soup), Ciberja (potato soup), Rasca Polievka (caraway seed soup), Bundurcov Halusky (potato dumplings), Kolbassa (pork sausage), Pirohy (pastries filled with cottage cheese, sauerkraut or potatoes), Halubky (stuffed cabbage), Goulash (stew), Kapusta Ochutenie, (sauerkraut relish), Brusnica Maline Kyslou Smotanu Forma (cranberry/raspberry/sour cream mold), Palancinky (crepes), Cheregie (deep fried pastries), Bublana (cherry or blueberry squares) and Kolachky (prune filled cookies).


For recipes from 1700s to 1960s and modern day links versions, visit
www.ThePAMeltingPot.com . Christine Willard, a native of western Pennsylvania, researches and blogs about the food unique to western Pennsylvania. She currently resides in North Carolina. Her blog can be found at www.ThePAMeltingPot.com.


 LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RECIPES BELOW PHOTOS!!
















Slovakian
The first wave of Slovak immigrants came to the Pittsburgh region in the 1890s. It is estimated that close to 100,000 came to this area looking for work and a chance for a better life. The National Slovak Society, the first fraternal benefit organization in America, was found in Pittsburgh in 1890, to help these new citizens financially and socially. Churches and schools were built in each neighborhood were Slovaks lived. It is estimated that by 1920, there were 28 Catholic Slovak churches many with adjoining schools and social halls. The Slovak Lutherans also founded their own churches and organizations. The Byzantine or Greek Catholics from Slovakia also established their own places of worship.
Even though the neighborhood churches are gone, the young American Slovaks look to the Slovak fraternal societies and the cultural organizations to keep their heritage alive. The University of Pittsburgh has a permanently endowed Slovak Program within the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature. This was established and funded by the Slovak Fraternal organization.
According to the 2000 U.S. census, there are 797,764 people of Slovak heritage living in the United States. Pennsylvania ranks first of the 50 states with 243,009 (30.5%) of these residents. Metropolitan Pittsburgh has 105,525, making it the #1 city in the world for people of Slovak heritage outside of Slovakia itself.
  • Western Pennsylvania Slovak Cultural Association: (http://wpsca.org/)
    One of the goals of WPSCA is to acquaint the general public with the geography, history and culture of the Slovak Republic.
     
  • National Slovak Society of the USA: (http://www.nsslife.org/)
    Its mission is to unite persons of Slovak and Slavic ancestry and their non-Slav friends and relatives in a fraternal benefit society.
    351 Valley Brook Road
    McMurray, PA 15317-3337
     

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The PA Melting Pot: THE PA MELTING POT - Special HALLOWEEN Post: Colum...

The PA Melting Pot: THE PA MELTING POT - Special HALLOWEEN Post: Colum...: Below is the column I authored for the Herald-Standard newspaper which appeared on 10 30 2014.  Below the column are photos and links r...








THE PA MELTING POT - Special HALLOWEEN Post: Column, photos, links and videos!!


Below is the column I authored for the Herald-Standard newspaper which will appear on 10 30 2014.  Below the column are photos and links referring to this column/blog. 

The Melting Pot:  A look at the evolution of food in Southwestern PA – SPECIAL HALLOWEEN COLUMN

Halloween originated as a pagan festival in parts of Northern Europe and is a time when magic is most potent and spirits can make contact with the physical world. Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought the holiday to the United States.
Halloween commercialization began the US in the 1900’s when postcards and die-cut paper decorations were produced. Halloween costumes appeared around the 1930,s and the custom of 'trick-or-treat' appeared in the 1950's. 

Modern day Halloween is more popular today with the youth in the countries below because of the influence and commercialization by the US. In this column Halloween customs of the top seven ethnic groups in western PA will be addressed.

GERMANY

Süßes Oder Saures (trick or treating) is very popular. Germans seems to indulge much more in scary dress-ups than their American counterparts, even for kids when it comes to Halloween.  By mid-October, you’ll see some carved out pumpkins on peoples’ doorsteps in the streets of Germany and Austria, though not as much as in North America. Kürbis (pumpkin) and jack-o'lantern decorations are very popular.

IRISH/SCOTCH-IRISH

In the old days children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes. Guising (Scottish trick or treat) occurred when children disguised in costumes went from door to door for food and coins and then the custom became known as Trick no a choireail (Irish trick or treat).  In Scotland in 1895 masqueraders would carry lanterns made out of scooped out turnips & visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money.  While going from door to door in disguise has remained popular among Scots and Irish and the custom of saying "trick or treat" has recently become common.

ITALY

These days among the younger generations Halloween has become more popular than Italy's very own Carnevale.  Like the Germans and Americans Italians get crazy about dressing up and playing tricks on their friends. Dolcetto o scherzetto” (trick or treat) is also popular. During the night of All Dead, the souls of the departed come back from beyond the graves in a long line, walking around the streets of the towns. That is why we carve a pumpkin and place it on the window with a candle inside it to use as a lantern.

POLAND/CROATIA/UKRAINE

Pennsylvania is fourth in the US with Polish-American population with estimated figures of a million and 9% in Pittsburgh. Today, Pennsylvania's Croatian population of nearly a quarter million is the largest in the country and they even have their own consulate in Pittsburgh.   Pittsburgh has the nation’s fifth largest Ukrainian community. These three countries are a large population contingent in western Pa.  However, they don’t celebrate Halloween per se but All Saints’ Day (Hallowmas - a Christian feast in honor of all the saints) and All Souls’ Day (a day of prayer for the dead, particularly but not exclusively one's relatives). The annual celebration is now held on 2 November and is associated with All Saints' Day (1 November) and its vigil, Hallowe'en (31 October) which is a combined Catholic custom.

For recipes from 1700s to 1960s and modern day links visit www.ThePAMeltingPot.com.  Christine Willard, a native of western Pennsylvania, researches and blogs about the food unique to Western Pennsylvania. She currently resides in North Carolina. Her blog can be found at www.ThePAMeltingPot.com.

German photos



  

   

  



 
Irish/Scotch Irish photos

  

  

  

  

  


Italian Photos

  

  

  

  

  

Polish photos


  

  

  

  

  

  
Croatian photos

  

  

  

  

  

Ukrainian photos

  

  

  

  

  


Halloween customs around the world links

Around the world







Halloween in western PA


Haunted hayrides in PA


Google search link for lots of info about Halloween in western and southwestern PA