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Showing posts from April, 2014

Greek Brides of Arranged Marriages in Australia

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The article, GREEK BRIDES OF ARRANGED MARRIAGES IN AUSTRALIA , was published in the Greek Reporter - Australia online, April 27, 2014,  authored by Ioanna Zikakou. The book looks very interesting, but I can not determine who published it and where it can be purchased.  If anyone has any information on this, please comment. The book of Dr. Panayota Nazou ""Greek 'Proxy Brides' in Australia:  From Life Experience to Artistic Expression" (1950-1975)" is expected to shed some light on brides of arranged marriages in the Greek Diaspora, as well as the social life of Greece in the mid 20th century.  . . .  . . . the author made reference to the courage of brides of proxenio (matchmaking), who endured conditions that would be difficult to fathom in today's society. . . . .   . . . . many Greek brides remain unhappy and are forced to endure a difficult life for fear of their families' retaliation and the disapproval of the Diaspora. READ THE E

60+ Greece Born in Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924

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The database IRELAND, PRISON REGISTERS is available through the FamilySearch.org historical  records collection.  You can search or browse online to find over 60 prisoners who are listed as being born in Greece.  There are a few more from the Ioanian Islands, Cephalonia, Samos, etc. Most of the names are spelled phonetically, so keep an open mind when reviewing these records.  There are many names that do not look Greek and are listed as being born in "Greek St" - I have no idea what that really means.   Records usually contain the following information: Name of inmate Last Residence Place of birth Occupation Age Crime committed Name of Victim Name and address of next of kin Marital Status Date crime committed ----- Following is a list of some that are recorded with Greece as their birthplace: Nicholas Menerakis - Birth 1896 John Touchlight - Birth 1864 Stephen Tsigonis (Antonio Tsigonis) - Birth 1878 N. Horlopalss - Birth

Photograph - INSPECTING THE BEST CIGARETTE TOBACCO IN GREECE

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Photograph found for sale on Ebay titled:   INSPECTING THE BEST CIGARETTE TOBACCO IN GREECE Seller claims the photo is from 1930

Five Really Cool Greek Easter Traditions You Might Not Know - The Pappas Post

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Five Really Cool Greek Easter Traditions You Might Not Know , published by The Pappas Post on April 19, 2014. Greek Easter isn't only about red eggs and sweet bread called Tsoureki and koulsourakia.  Timeless traditions, some dating to pagan times and others from the revolution against the Turks dot the Greek countryside and islands. READ THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE

The Greeks of Turkey: Is It Too Late?

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" The Greeks of Turkey:  Is It Too Late? " article was published on April 15, 2014 by THE PAPPAS POST, authored by Tania Karas,  A century of oppression has nearly wiped out a religious minority group with historic ties to the region. Improved politics offer a new ray of hope.  But with their numbers dwindling, Turkey's Greek Orthodox Christians are fighting for survival. In the spring of 2011, Tania Karas, a 2011 graduate of Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, received a global research grant to spend three weeks documenting the daily lives and demographic strength of the last Greek Orthodox Christians in Istanbul, Turkey.  She interviewed 20 community leaders, young people and government officials on the challenges of living within a community whose population is in decline.  The trip culminated in a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's 250 million-plus Orthodox Christians whose Holy See has be

The Moving (Literally) Story of St Haralambos Church in Canton, Ohio

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On April 16, 2014 THE PAPPAS POST published " The Moving (Literally) Story of St Haralambos Church in Canton, OH " April 16, 1958 - The story behind St Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Canton, Ohio, is a powerful and moving (literally) example of the unity and commitment that binds the Greek American community. Short listed as one of the 10 treasures in Stark County, the church was moved four miles through the center of Canton all the way to Harvard NW in 1958.  It took several trucks and 60 wheels of steel beams to pull the church to its new home. . . . .  Their story starts in the early 1900s.  The very first Greek immigrant to settle in Canton was a tailor named George Loukas.  He arrived in 1898.  Two years later, there were 50 Greeks.  It wasn't long before the fast-growing Greek immigrant community of Canton started thinking about building their own church. READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

The Last Chairmaker of Komotini

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The Greek Reporter - Greece published the article " The Last Chairmaker of Komotini " by Abed Alloush on 13 April 2014. "Bring out your old chairs, folks ...here comes the chairbler!" Such is the cry of Hussein Ismet, the last chair-maker of Komotini in northern Greece, as he trawls the town street by street seeking nothing more than to ply his trade of his forebears.  The locals hear him coming from blocks away. He learned the craft from his father, who in turn learned it from his grandfather - a family business if ever there was.  For as long as he can remember, Hussein has wandered around on his tricycle-cum-workshop in search of seating in need of repair. Read the rest of the article

Director Asimakopoulos Shoots Film on Neighborhood of Greek Immigrants

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April 7, 2014 the Greek Reporter - Canada published the article " Director Asimakopoulos Shoots Film on Neighborhood of Greek Immigrants " by Konstantinos Menzel. "Greek-Canadian Montreal based director Tony Asimakopoulos decided to go the route of the ever-growing popular method of crowdfunding, so as to fund his most recent documentary project entitled "A Walk in Park Ex." The latest project by director Asimakopoulos, who is renowned for his sold-out documentary "Fortunate Son," features the neighborhood Park Extension, the place where he was born to Greek immigrant parents and the place he moved back to after buying ah house. "I feel Park Ex is on the cusp of major change and I want to take a cinematic snapshot of this point in time.  I'm making this film because I know that if I don't, one day, I will wish I had," said Asimakopoulos on his decision to shoot a film for this historic neighborhood, which has become the la

Part One - 1948 Article - The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown (fictional NE American city name)

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The article - The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown by J. Mayone Stycos was published in Common Ground , 1948, pp. 61-70 as the first in a series of three articles.   "When an alien group emigrates from a foreign land, it carries little of that culture in its baggage but very much of it in its mind.  When a poor Spartan farmer comes to America, he cannot carry his mule, his plow, or his olive trees, and neither can he transport the more artistic and literary manifestations of his culture.  But what he can transport to the new land he carries easily and unforgettable in his head - the customs, the folkways, and mores, the ways of thinking and behaving that he learned in his home country. . . . . " I enjoyed this and would recommend that you take the time to read the rest of this article through the following link - The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown J. Mayone Stycos was an early pioneer in the development of the field of population studies. Born in 1927, he gradua

Part Three - 1948 Article - The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown: The Second Generation

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The article - " The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown:  The Second Generation " by J. Mayone Stycos was published in Common Ground, June 1948, pp. 72-86.   This is the third and final part of the three part series.  

Part Two - 1948 Article - The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown: Community Cohesion

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The article - " The Spartan Greeks of Bridgetown:  Community Cohesion " by J. Mayone Stycos was published in Common Ground , March 1948, pp. 24-33.   This is the second in a series of three articles . "Probably the most striking result of my investigation of the first and second-generation Greek Americans of Bridgetown was the discovery of the unusual amount of community spirit and active co-operation the members manifested.  While stresses and strains on the community do exist, they seem the exception.  The unity is of two kinds, psychological and structural.  The Greeks think of themselves as a unit.  The sense of this unity was frequently expressed.  Several persons said the community was like "one big family," while others showed in their attitudes a preference for those of Greek descent on a basis of "feeling at home," "being with your own kind," etc.  Nearly all those interviewed commented on the friendliness of the Greeks i

2,600+ Born in Greece - New York Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919

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Ancestry.com has a database online that is titled - New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 which has 2,600+ records for people listing Greece as their place of birth. These are very interesting records that can provide you with some detailed information regarding your ancestor's military service. Don't forget - most of you can access these records online at your local public library for FREE.  Read more on one of my previous posts " Something New To Try When Using Ancestry.com in the Library for FREE " About these records (from Ancestry.com): New York sent more soldiers to fight in World War I than any other state in the Union. In fact, New Yorkers represented more than 10 percent of U.S. troops. This collection includes cards listing details abstracted from federal military service records for Army officers, enlisted men, sailors, Marines, and nurses who enlisted or were drafted in New York. The majority of the records begin in 19

300 Greece Born - FREE access to Louisiana, New Orleans Passenger Lists

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FamilySearch.org  has FREE records for 300 people who listed Greece as their place of birth -  Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1945  , where you will be able to view a digital copy of the original handwritten passenger list. This includes:  Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902 and Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1903-1945 You can read more about these records on the  FamilySearch.org  wiki.

Greek Diaspora in South Africa - Good Hope Diocese Helps Senior Greek-South Africans

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The article " GOOD HOPE DIOCESE HELPS SENIOR GREEK-SOUTH AFRICANS " was published by the GreekReporter.com, authored by Ioanna Zikakou on 19 March 2014. Senior Greek expatriates from the region of Cape Town, South Africa, who responded to the call of the Good Hope diocese, now have the opportunity to spend some time and speak Greek with people their own age. During this first "tea for the elderly" which was organized in the new Orthodoxy Center in Lansdowne, Greek seniors had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, play backgammon, listen to Greek music or watch Greek movies and enjoy appetizers and deserts. Metropolitan Sergius of Cape Town welcomed all the parishioners and stressed that it is "a wonderful feeling to know that we take care of our seniors and give them the choice to spend some time in a friendly and familiar environment." Link to article

Village of MALITZINA, Municipality of Melitinis, Region of Laconia, Greece - FREE Translation of 1872 General Election List

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The digital collections of the Greek State Archives offer a wealth of information to those of us interested in Greek genealogy.  As part of their online collection is the "Election Material From the Collection of Vlachoyiannis" .  This includes "General Election Lists" for each Municipality; recorded by community (city, village, settlement, etc.). You can view a scanned copy of each list, printed in the Greek language.  This is a GREAT resource, but very difficult to navigate for those who do not read Greek.  Each row includes:  Line # -  Given Name, Surname - Father's Name -  Age - Occupation. I have translated these pages and made them available in both Greek and English, doing my best to transcribe the information accurately.  I would always recommend viewing the original scanned copies (link below).    - To the best of my knowledge, these lists include all Males who were eligible to vote in the elections.   - Names a