If you are interested in only one or two branches of this family tree, see Branches of the Family Tree in the sidebar on the right. Click on Thaden if you descend from Herman and Angelina Thaden. Click on Hahn if you descend from Sam and Hazel Hahn. Click on Romeo if you descend from Joe and Carmelina Romeo. Click on Bright if you descend from Fred and Nan Bright.
My children descend from a variety of cultures.
The BRIGHT family relocated from Pennsylvania to the booming riverfront town of Wyandotte, Kansas, shortly after the Civil War.
The MOORE family, of Scots-Irish descent, lived in the upcountry of South Carolina for a hundred years or more.
The THADEN family came from German immigrants and Tennessee Scots-Irish clans.
The NICHOLAS family originated in Tripoli and Beirut, Syria, and lived among a Syrian colony in Jacksonville, Florida.
The HAHN and LUTES families raced for land in the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893 and had been ever on the frontier prior to that time.
The ROMEO and MOTTA families immigrated to this country at the turn of the century from Sicily.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Greek Festival
We began our festival experience with a tour of the church. I was very interested in this part of our day because our Syrian ancestors were Greek Orthodox. Why not Syrian Orthodox, I have often wondered. I learned that all of the Orthodox religions are exactly the same. The only difference must be in the language spoken in their liturgies. This leads me to believe our Syrian ancestors spoke not only Arabic, but also Greek. I've known for some time now that there were other Greek influences in their lives. I'm thinking the ancestors of our Syrian people were Greek.
I was pleased with what I learned about the Greek Orthodox doctrine. I found I could agree with it and I felt very close to my Syrian ancestors as I stood inside the church surrounded by candles and saints and the color red. I'm so glad they remained true to Christianity in spite of the religious persecution they endured.
There were many fun wares on display imported from Greece. I bought myself a bracelet and Mike came home with a jar of olives and a can of stuffed grape leaves.
We then ordered ourselves gyros and baklava and sat down to eat while listening to recorded Greek folk music in the background. I looked around at the people and was soon able to pick out all the ones who were Greek just by the way they looked. Shortly, a group of teenagers from a Denver dance school, dressed in various colorful Greek folk costume, entertained us with some dances. There was not a blonde in the group. I thought how my own girls would not have looked out of place on that stage.
I must learn to make tzatziki sauce. It was a great cultural experience, and Mike even said he would like to go again next year. I hope to bring my girls with me.
That sounds like such a fun date! I would really like to visit an event like that sometime.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are coming with us next year!!
ReplyDelete