Posts

The Legend of Liaroutsena (Tegeas, Arcadia, Greece)

Image
  The Legend of Liaroutsena   Excerpt from the book   MANTHYREA (Kapareli, Garouni, Dara)   The history of a village of Tegeas in Arkadia   By Dionysiou V. Heliopoulou   Published 1992, Aivali Publications, Athens   “Published with the author's own supervision and expense and shall be distributed free of charge to all those who wish to read it.   To all the families of the Manthryreans here, but especially to the expatriates so that this may be a link to the birthplace and their glorious homeland, both for themselves and for their expatriates, and their descendants.”   -----   Translation of excerpts from pages 56 - 57 by ChatGPT – original Greek text follows the translation.   Page 56   During that time, around 1870, the residents of Kapareli, Garouni, Ntara, etc., were struck by the rampant disease of smallpox, which had been present in our country for years and appeared at times with epidemics.   We do not know how many victims it left

The Missing Museum - Honoring the Greek Legacy in Manhattan

Image
"The Missing Museum - Honoring the Greek Legacy in Manhattan" is an article authored by Professor Alexander Kitroeff, published in The National Herald, January 27, 2024 Edition.   ---------- Several years ago, we were lucky enough to get permission from The National Herald to repost articles that are of interest to our group.                                                                                           ---------- It has occurred to me that Manhattan is in need of a Greek-American museum. The realization came to me in a roundabout way, and quite unexpectedly. On a recent visit to New York City I was gathering data for my next book by interviewing Greek-American diner owners. Over time, I hope to speak to as many if not all who have businesses in the five boroughs. This time round I managed to speak with the proprietors of Gee Whiz, Hector’s, Star on 18 in Manhattan and Park Plaza in Brooklyn and I am gratefully and happily processing the stories they generously sh

How a Greek language lives on in southern Italy

Image
  ‘Teli na cusi tin glossa grika?’ How a Greek language lives on in southern Italy Article posted in Ekathimerini https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1231599/teli-na-cusi-tin-glossa-grika/ Authored by Alex Sakalis on Feb. 14, 2024 With its sugarcube houses, labyrinthine streets and hyper-Baroque churches, Corigliano d’Otranto seems at first like any other village in Italy’s southern Salento region. But as you wander around and explore, an entirely different world begins to reveal itself.  “Teli na cusi tin glossa grika?” asks a sign on the main square. “Cai ‘na percorso amesa tus monumentu pleon orriu so chorio paleo pu Coriana?” If you’re an Italian speaker, you might be feeling a little lost. But if you’re a Greek speaker, then these words will evoke an odd sense of familiarity. That’s because this is Griko – a language closely related to Greek and spoken in a small microregion of Salento known as Grecia Salentina. My guide to this world-within-a-world is Dr Manuela Pellegrino, a na

Villagers find antiquities – What would your grandparents have done?

Image
The author observes jar found in 1931 Excerpt from the book MANTHYREA (Kapareli, Garouni, Dara) The history of a village of Tegeas in Arkadia By Dionysiou V. Heliopoulou Published 1992, Aivali Publications, Athens “Published with the author's own supervision and expense and shall be distributed free of charge to all those who wish to read it.  To all the families of the Manthryreans here, but especially to the expatriates so that this may be a link to the birthplace and their glorious homeland, both for themselves and for their expatriates, and their descendants.” ----- Personal comment by Georgia Stryker Keilman. My grandfather, Odison Tsiones, was born in Kapareli in the year 1898.  The families in that area struggled to survive. I cannot imagine my grandfather would have called in the authorities and risked having his property overtaken by archaeologists. ----- Translation of excerpts from pages 33 – 35 by ChatGPT – original Greek text follows the translation.

Preserving the Magic: The Importance of Sharing Old Family Photographs and Traditions During Christmas

Image
  "Preserving the Magic: The Importance of Sharing Old Family Photographs and Traditions During Christmas" The holiday season is a time for joy, reflection, and most importantly, connection with our loved ones. As Christmas approaches, many of us find ourselves immersed in the hustle and bustle of preparations, from decorating homes to planning festive meals. In the midst of the holiday chaos, it's crucial to pause and embrace the rich tapestry of our family history by sharing old photographs and cherished traditions. In this blog post, I explore the profound importance of weaving the threads of the past into the present during the Christmas holidays. Nostalgia and Emotional Bonds: Old family photographs have a unique power to evoke nostalgia, transporting us back to cherished moments of the past. Sharing these photographs during Christmas can trigger heartwarming memories and strengthen the emotional bonds that tie generations together. As family members gather around, f

Our Archives, Our Heritage by Prof. Alexander Kitroeff

Image
  "Our Archives, Our Heritage" is an article authored by Professor Alexander Kitroeff, published in The National Herald, November 18-24, 2023 Edition.   ---------- Several years ago, we were lucky enough to get permission from The National Herald to repost articles that are of interest to our group.                                                                                           ---------- Note:  Information on how to contribute to Meletis Pouliopoulos project "Greek Cultural Resources" can be found at the bottom of this page.                                                                                           ---------- During a recent trip to Boston I was able to visit two Greek-American archives. This is my idea of having fun, though these involve serious business because such collections contain the materials through which we can preserve our heritage and pass it on to the younger generations. In one of the two archives I visited, I watched digitiz

40 Greek names in booklet "The Wyoming Hellenes" by Patrick Pace

Image
  The Wyoming Hellenes - Two Papers on Greek-American Immigrants to the State of Wyoming and their Communities by Patrick Pace, published by Absent House Publishing in 2022. This booklet includes 40 Greek names - listed below. From book cover:   This booklet contains two separate but overlapping research papers covering the Greek-American immigrant experience in Wyoming.  As part of that experience, it explores the tension Greek immigrants felt between two homelands in the early twentieth-century as they settled in Wyoming.  Here, Greek-Americans were often caught between loyalty to their sending culture and patriotism in their receiving country -- the United States.  This research evaluates the concepts of transnationalism, cosmopolitanism, and particularity that the immigrant often faces as they wrestle between two identities.  The Greeks and Greek Orthodox of Wyoming were and are not isolates in their experiences, but did manage to retain a healthy grasp on their culture, even as t