Hi Chris-Great article. I just recently came back from 2 weeks on Slovakia. My parents both came to america in the early 1900's. They met in Braddock,Pa. and married. They had 9 children. I am the youngest . I am 71 years old at this time. I love evrything Slovak. My mother was born in Krajna Poljana in the Svidnik district,in Eastern Slovakia. It's about 10 miles from thr Polish border,near the" Dukla Pass";where there was a big battle in the Second World War. She was raised Russian Orthodox,but upon coming to America ,and meeting my dad who was Roman Catholic, she raised us all Roman Catholic.
I spent 1 week with my Father's family,and 1 week with my mother's family. My cousin got married. It was a tremendous wedding(Svadba)that I have ever attended. It was mixed modern and traditional. The Musicians came to the house where the bride and groom asked for their prospective parents approval ;followed by prayers by the priest,who is married and is a relative of mine. Then the entire Wedding party walked through the village(Vysna Jedlova),to the Russian Orthodox church. It was simply beautiful with 2 priests praying without music and doing all the traditional services that go with the Wedding. The bride and groom both wore greenleaved crowns and held candles ,plus many other customs. Then the entire Wedding group walked to the Cultura Dom(Culture Home),for the main Svadba(Wedding). Then the traditional breaking of the dish,where upon the groom sweeps up the pieces and the bride holds the dust pan. Custom says ,how many main piecesbreak,that's how many children you will have.The Best Man,called "Starost",carries the Valashka(Ax) the entire day;plus dances around a bottle of Vodka;plus with the young men also dancing around the bottle. Then between 2 bottles ;then one bottle ontop of another bottle.
The Wedding started at 1:00 pm. Saturday,and didn't end until 5:00 am Sunday morning. Lots of dancing,singing,drinking,and eating. We ate 5 main meals throughout the day and night. The music didn't stop until 5:00 am.I t5hink everyone ,but me knew all the words to all the songs. It was really something. I took over 900 picture with my digital camera. They also gave me the video already of the entire day.
The bride also changed into the Slovak Kroj dress and danced the Redovy(Bridal Dance)with everyone.
I could go on and on,but that's enough. I spoke Slovak the entire time I was there. I loved it. I thank my parents for teaching me the Slovak language . We spoke it from when I was born. I didn't learn English until I went to school. I've kept up my Slovak language ,and have delved into my genealogy of my family for all these years. I live in Florida now,after living half my life in the Pittsburgh area. Most of the family still live there.
The Russyn people of my mother's family are alive and still thriving. Thank you for the fine article. -Zbohom-Vince Stankay.
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I spent 1 week with my Father's family,and 1 week with my mother's family. My cousin got married. It was a tremendous wedding(Svadba)that I have ever attended. It was mixed modern and traditional. The Musicians came to the house where the bride and groom asked for their prospective parents approval ;followed by prayers by the priest,who is married and is a relative of mine. Then the entire Wedding party walked through the village(Vysna Jedlova),to the Russian Orthodox church. It was simply beautiful with 2 priests praying without music and doing all the traditional services that go with the Wedding. The bride and groom both wore greenleaved crowns and held candles ,plus many other customs. Then the entire Wedding group walked to the Cultura Dom(Culture Home),for the main Svadba(Wedding). Then the traditional breaking of the dish,where upon the groom sweeps up the pieces and the bride holds the dust pan. Custom says ,how many main piecesbreak,that's how many children you will have.The Best Man,called "Starost",carries the Valashka(Ax) the entire day;plus dances around a bottle of Vodka;plus with the young men also dancing around the bottle. Then between 2 bottles ;then one bottle ontop of another bottle.
The Wedding started at 1:00 pm. Saturday,and didn't end until 5:00 am Sunday morning. Lots of dancing,singing,drinking,and eating. We ate 5 main meals throughout the day and night. The music didn't stop until 5:00 am.I t5hink everyone ,but me knew all the words to all the songs. It was really something. I took over 900 picture with my digital camera. They also gave me the video already of the entire day.
The bride also changed into the Slovak Kroj dress and danced the Redovy(Bridal Dance)with everyone.
I could go on and on,but that's enough. I spoke Slovak the entire time I was there. I loved it. I thank my parents for teaching me the Slovak language . We spoke it from when I was born. I didn't learn English until I went to school. I've kept up my Slovak language ,and have delved into my genealogy of my family for all these years. I live in Florida now,after living half my life in the Pittsburgh area. Most of the family still live there.
The Russyn people of my mother's family are alive and still thriving. Thank you for the fine article. -Zbohom-Vince Stankay.