balkan Flashcards
Balkan Nations
Greece Albania Bosnia-Herzegovina Montenegro Serbia ◦ Kosovo ◦ Vojvodina Macedonia Croatia Slovenia Bulgaria Romania
Middle East
Bahrain Egypt Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen
Cultural Perspective
Temperate in climate & suited to agriculture Aridity limits cultivation Greek & Turkish influences throughout ◦ Persian Empire Very diverse in religious affiliation
Current Demographics & Socioeconomic
Status: Balkans
Bosnian refugees came in the early 1990s seeking refuge from ethnic cleansing Left homeland suddenly Most Muslim and live in Bosnian Muslim neighborhoods Strong work ethics Lack of English skills or credentialing difficulties Average income is low
Immigrants from Greece, Serbia and
Bosnia most likely follow some form of
which faith?
Eastern Orthodox
Protestant
Roman Catholic
Islam
Worldview:
Religion – People of the Balkans
Greeks & Greek Americans ◦ Greek Eastern Orthodox Church Serbs ◦ Serbian Orthodox Autonomous Church Croatians and Slovenians ◦ Devout Roman Catholics Some Slovenians are Protestants ◦ Windish Bosnian Croats were Catholic Bosnian Serbs followed the Eastern Orthodox Recent Bosnian refugees are Sunni Muslims
Worldview: Family - Balkans
Greeks strongly patriarchal ◦ Unquestioned authority with numerous responsibilities ◦ Women focus on home, family, church Croatian and Serbian families patriarchal ◦ Extended families the norm Bosnians did maintain extended family homes but this has changed ◦ Men & women both work but women retain responsibility for the home
Traditional Health Beliefs & Practices:
People of the Balkans
Physical fitness essential to good health
Necessary for development of character
For Greeks
◦ Eating a good diet
◦ Relaxation
◦ Adequate sleep
◦ Keeping a positive attitude
Most care provided by mothers or grandmothers
Many kept an herbal pharmacy for therapeutic
teas
Cupping includes blood-letting
More severe conditions by midwives &
bonesetters
Belief in “evil eye” prevalent
◦ From envy
Causes accidents and illness
Wear garlic, blue amulets with eye in the
center
When receiving a compliment will spit two or
three times to keep harm away
Traditional Food Habits
Origins of dishes
unknown
Wheat, olives, dates
Sheep
Rice, chickpeas,
lemons
Significant differences due to dietary restrictions &
proximity to other cuisines
Pork popular in Christian populations that neighbor
Europe but not in Christian areas in Greece where
lamb is preferred as in the Middle East
Alcoholic beverages banned for Muslims but widely
consumed in Turkey possibly because of proximity to
Russia
Traditional Food Habits: Staples
Loaves & flatbreads ◦ Pita or pocket bread ◦ Lavash or cracker bread Wheat doughs to make pies & turnovers ◦ Phyllo or filo ◦ Makes savory pies or desserts Baklava or paklava
Regional Variations: Balkans
Combine European and Middle Eastern
elements in cooking
Northern nations more influenced by Europe
◦ Includes Romania
Southern nations more influenced by the
Middle East
◦ Greek is considered Turkish
◦ Includes Albania
Northern Balkans
Pork & veal with German-style sausages
Pljeskavica are large, thin beef or lamb patties that are
grilled
Potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, wild mushrooms
◦ May be stuffed with meat and rice
◦ Bell peppers, onions, potatoes, or cabbage leaves give a
Balkan flavor
Fruits are cooler weather
◦ Desserts such as dumplings and strudels, compotes
Buttermilk frequently consumed
Fresh cheese often combined with herbs
Cream in soups, stews, casseroles
Sour cream or whipped cream tops many dishes
Treat is a sweet yeast bread rolled with walnut, butter, cream
and egg filling called potica
◦ With dried fruits or savory
Regional Variations: Greece & Turkey
More meat, fish & seafood, cheese, butter & olive oil
Use flatware instead of fingers
Common dishes
◦ Filo dough with spinach & feta: Spanakopita/ ispanakli
◦ Caviar dip – taramasalata/tarama
◦ Salads with fresh greens, tomato, cucumbers, olives, lemon juice- olive oil vinaigrette
Greeks like pastries while Turks like fruit compotes or
rich custards & candy
Fasting rules vary drastically between Eastern Orthodox
& Muslim
Daily Patterns – The Balkans
3 meals per day
Light breakfast
Main meal at midday
◦ Short nap afterwards in hotter climates
May have afternoon visitors for sweets, coffee, or
ouzo
Dinner is lighter and later in the evening
Snacking is prevalent
◦ Mezze are small dishes of various items widely
available from street vendors and cafes
Special Occasions
Eastern Orthodox Church has many feast
and fast days
Most important Greek holiday is Easter
◦ Red-dyed Easter eggs
◦ Easter bread called lambropsomo decorated
with eggs
◦ Easter soup called mayeritsa made of lamb’
s
intestines
◦ Easter cookie called koulourakia
◦ Roast lamb
Croatians celebrate Easter similar to the Greeks
Christmas Eve features meal of cod, stuffed cabbage
and sauerkraut
Serbians celebrate Patron Saint’s Day
◦ Each family honors its self-chosen patron saint with feasting
and dancing
Also celebrate St. Nick’s Feast and St. Martin’
s
Feast
In Turkey, Seker Bayram is Eid-al-Fitr
◦ Sugar Festival
◦ Gifts and sweet treats exchanged
10th day of the first lunar month Turks celebrate
the martyrdom of Mohammed’s grandson and
the day Noah was able to leave the ark
◦ Noah’s pudding (asure) made from fresh and dried
fruits, nuts, legumes
Kurban Bayram is day of remembrance for when
Abraham almost sacrificed his son
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day
what faith do ppl from greece have: eastern orthodox
serbia: eastern orthodox
bosnia: islam
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