WOW! This must have been what happened with my family as well. They were from Mikóháza, Hungary, but they were not Hungarians, so they called themselves Slovaks. My grandfather believed they were Slovaks because that was what he had been told by his parents. In fact, they were Rusyns! Very interesting explanation as to why they might call themselves Slovaks.
My grandmother was Ruthenian. Her mother had always identified as Ruthenian and spoke Russian; and her father insisted he was Slovak. They were part of the Greek Orthodox Church. They came to North America around 1902 to 1906. The Ruthenians were being exterminated at that time. It was more like a genocide. They also said they were not Ukrainian. Most people today have never heard of Ruthenians and do not know anything about what happened to them. People today believe Ukrainians built Kiev, but I was raised to understand that the Rusyns built Kiev. My friend in high school was Hungarian, and her mother who was born and raised in Hungary, told me never to allow anyone to convince me that Ruthenians were actually Ukrainians. She said that the Catholic church had documented the history of the Ruthenians, so there is still proof of them being a people. What I read online about Ruthenians appears to me that the attempt to erase their identity still persists.
I met quite a few of people in eastern Slovakia who say they are Rusyn.They did not speak any other language than Slovak, felt ethnic Slovak, but their Slovak identity had 'additional Rusyn dimension'
I was told from early on, by my grandfather, he said the USA calls us Czech, or Slav, but we are carptorusyn. I never fully understood that, even though my pap would try and explain, until you started teaching. Thank you.
Well, befor 1989 Slovaks and Rusins had stable growth of population, now our fertility rate is low. So... The population of Central Europe is set to decrease ... Slovakia's population might decrease by 30% by 2100, dropping to 3.8 Milion. I am afraid Rusyns will not survive this...
WOW! This must have been what happened with my family as well. They were from Mikóháza, Hungary, but they were not Hungarians, so they called themselves Slovaks. My grandfather believed they were Slovaks because that was what he had been told by his parents. In fact, they were Rusyns! Very interesting explanation as to why they might call themselves Slovaks.
My grandmother was Ruthenian. Her mother had always identified as Ruthenian and spoke Russian; and her father insisted he was Slovak. They were part of the Greek Orthodox Church. They came to North America around 1902 to 1906. The Ruthenians were being exterminated at that time. It was more like a genocide. They also said they were not Ukrainian. Most people today have never heard of Ruthenians and do not know anything about what happened to them. People today believe Ukrainians built Kiev, but I was raised to understand that the Rusyns built Kiev. My friend in high school was Hungarian, and her mother who was born and raised in Hungary, told me never to allow anyone to convince me that Ruthenians were actually Ukrainians. She said that the Catholic church had documented the history of the Ruthenians, so there is still proof of them being a people. What I read online about Ruthenians appears to me that the attempt to erase their identity still persists.
Great presentation, Thank you John
I met quite a few of people in eastern Slovakia who say they are Rusyn.They did not speak any other language than Slovak, felt ethnic Slovak, but their Slovak identity had 'additional Rusyn dimension'
Rusyns was loyal to the Hungarian Kingdom.
I was told from early on, by my grandfather, he said the USA calls us Czech, or Slav, but we are carptorusyn. I never fully understood that, even though my pap would try and explain, until you started teaching. Thank you.
Prosím modlitební práci o spółupraci: na Familijne projekt palomnicki: carpat.in.ua/?p=4213
Well, befor 1989 Slovaks and Rusins had stable growth of population, now our fertility rate is low. So... The population of Central Europe is set to decrease ... Slovakia's population might decrease by 30% by 2100, dropping to 3.8 Milion. I am afraid Rusyns will not survive this...