Russ,  My daughter, 13 y/o granddaughter and I enjoyed the raft ride
three or so weeks ago on Helene's tour.  They had fun putting one foot
in Poland and the other in Slovakia.  It was my fourth raft ride on
the Dunajec.   I was surprised to see the new bridge.

So many changes in the country since I was there in '05.  Almost
didn't recognize Hviezdoslovovo Namesti in Bratislava for the
overgrown trees (the street that leads to the divadlo).

I visited my mother's village Zahorska Bystrica only to find my
mother's house gone--a new house/garage in its place.  It was there in
'05.  :(

Julia Matchett

On Jul 25, 2010, at 7:58 AM, mccoy4984 wrote:

> For those who are interested, I've posted about 10 more Pieniny
> pictures on the blog. I've also added another example of Georgian
> hospitality. Finally, I've included a few off topic pictures of the
> scenic road to Mecca. Please check them out at:
>
> http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
>
> Thanks! Russ


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lubos,   That is a nice looking trivet from Tesco.  We got the bus to
stop at Tesco (Helene's tour) because some people wanted futbal tee
shirts and me and another woman wanted curling irons.  What a bargain
just six euros for a curling iron at Tesco.  Julia M.

On Jul 20, 2010, at 10:14 AM, Lubos Brieda wrote:

> Funny, so I figured I'll go on slovak google and see what I can
> find. And there
> is an identically looking trivet on Tesco website. They call it
> "podložka pod
> hrniec", trivet for under a pot.
>
http://www.tescoma-eshop.sk/stolovanie/vyrobky-z-dreva-a-skla/woody/podlozka-pod\
-hrniec-19-cm-1101.html
>
> -- Lubos Brieda --


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I will be traveling to Slovakia on August 18 and returning October 20th, in=
  time to travel with Helene and Jozef Ivas~ka to DC and then to The Pitt 20=
th Anniversary Celebration.=20

I will be in Kuty for a "couple of weeks" for Slivovica practice and then t=
o Velke Kostolany fo the September 11th wedding of my cousins son Pavol C~e=
liga.

I will be visiting Strani pod Javorina/Kve~tna, (Moravia), Smiz~any, Dlhe S=
traz~e, (Spis~), Rimavska Sobota, and Banska Bystrica, (Slovakia).=A0 I als=
o hope that Helene and Helen are still in Pies~tany.

Vilo






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It is also interesting to note parallels between historic evidence on the
breeding of farm animals from the feudal period and ethnographic information
from the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.  Feudal
authorities also preferred pasturing cattle in common herds.  As early as in The
Book of ®ilina (®ilinská kniha, 1378), it was against the law to hire private
herdsmen, and stiff penalties were prescribed for damages to field crops by
pastured cattle.

The system of common pasturage made it easier to register cattle, which was
necessary for taxation, and herdsmen were responsible for protecting crops in
the fields.  Under the individual pasturage system, it was difficult to prevent
the pasturing of animals in forests.  These principles were later also part of
the legal system under Maria Theresa, which mandated the common pasturage of
cattle under the supervision of herdsmen.

This organized form of summer grazing was possible only in areas where there was
enough pasture.  In the feudal system, which was also widespread in other
central and western European countries, flat and valley pastures, meadows (after
the hay had been mowed), stubble-fields, and fallow fields (originating under
the three-field system) were used to pasture common herds and flocks.  Pastures
were not located above 1,000 m above sea level.  The daily driving of common
herds and flocks from farming estates to pastures was typical of this system of
cattle pasturage.

H
All opinions (and no cattle) my own


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For more interesting reading, I recommend

http://www.ce-review.org/01/14/stika14.html

Moving with
the Flock
Jaroslav Štika

Over a period of centuries, Wallachian shepherds spread across mountain ridges
from the Black Sea to Moravia, permanently transforming the natural environment,
economy and culture of the Carpathian Mountains. It all began in the 10th to the
13th centuries in present-day Romania, when shepherds and their flocks of sheep
moved to new pastures high in the Carpathian Mountains.

The slopes and ridges of the Southern and Eastern Carpathians began to be used
for seasonal sheep farming. This was made possible thanks to a special breed of
sheep, called "Wallachian" in the western reaches of the Carpathians. The sheep
were small, with rough wool, and were able to withstand the harsh conditions of
living in the mountains yet produce relatively high yields of milk.

Much, much more is to  be read at
http://www.ce-review.org/01/14/stika14.html

I believe the origin Name Valachovic~ in Kúty and other towns in the Zahorie,
[Zaah hoarr ee eh] region, western Slovakia has it's origin from the Wallachian,
[vah lah khee ahn] shepards.

Vilo

--- On Thu, 7/29/10, Ron <amiak27@...> wrote:

From: Ron <amiak27@...>
Subject: [Slovak-World] Re: Traditional agriculture--47
To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 4:50 PM







 









       For more interesting reading, I recommend



http://www.ce-review.org/01/14/stika14.html



Moving with

the Flock

Jaroslav Å tika



Over a period of centuries, Wallachian shepherds spread across mountain ridges
from the Black Sea to Moravia, permanently transforming the natural environment,
economy and culture of the Carpathian Mountains. It all began in the 10th to the
13th centuries in present-day Romania, when shepherds and their flocks of sheep
moved to new pastures high in the Carpathian Mountains.



The slopes and ridges of the Southern and Eastern Carpathians began to be used
for seasonal sheep farming. This was made possible thanks to a special breed of
sheep, called "Wallachian" in the western reaches of the Carpathians. The sheep
were small, with rough wool, and were able to withstand the harsh conditions of
living in the mountains yet produce relatively high yields of milk.



Much, much more is to  be read at

http://www.ce-review.org/01/14/stika14.html

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Edie!

Thank you so much for the kind words.  I will try to put up some more Pieniny
pics this weekend.  Russ

--- In Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com, e.gernat@... wrote:
>
>
>
>   Russ You would not believe how many times I have looked at all of your
pictres. I really appreciate the effort you put in for my enjoyment  Thank you
Edie      
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mccoy4984" <mccoy4984@...>
> To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 7:58:06 AM
> Subject: [Slovak-World] More Pieniny Pics, Georgian Hospitality, and the Road
To Mecca . . .
>
>  
>
>
>
>
> For those who are interested, I've posted about 10 more Pieniny pictures on
the blog. I've also added another example of Georgian hospitality. Finally, I've
included a few off topic pictures of the scenic road to Mecca. Please check them
out at:
>
> http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
>
> Thanks! Russ
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Julie,

Stop it!  You're making me want to take another trip there:)  Yes, that area was
amazing.  I know the people living there aren't wealthy but everything looks so
beautiful and you could eat off the streets they're so clean!  Just goes to show
you how far a little pride will take you.
--- In Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com, Matchett <wmatchett@...> wrote:
>
> Russ,  My daughter, 13 y/o granddaughter and I enjoyed the raft ride
> three or so weeks ago on Helene's tour.  They had fun putting one foot
> in Poland and the other in Slovakia.  It was my fourth raft ride on
> the Dunajec.   I was surprised to see the new bridge.
>
> So many changes in the country since I was there in '05.  Almost
> didn't recognize Hviezdoslovovo Namesti in Bratislava for the
> overgrown trees (the street that leads to the divadlo).
>
> I visited my mother's village Zahorska Bystrica only to find my
> mother's house gone--a new house/garage in its place.  It was there in
> '05.  :(
>
> Julia Matchett
>
> On Jul 25, 2010, at 7:58 AM, mccoy4984 wrote:
>
> > For those who are interested, I've posted about 10 more Pieniny
> > pictures on the blog. I've also added another example of Georgian
> > hospitality. Finally, I've included a few off topic pictures of the
> > scenic road to Mecca. Please check them out at:
> >
> > http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
> >
> > Thanks! Russ
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

One of Helen's latest agriculture posts mentioned horses. I find it interesting
that some ethnic groups traditionally ride horses, while others use them only as
draft animals. (I'm not talking about horse riding as a sport among the upper
classes, but about daily village/town life.)

My impression is that the Slavs, at least the northern group (Eastern & Western)
are decidedly in the draft animal category. They don't ride horses except for
ritual or special occasions like inviting people to weddings, or spring horse
rituals like the Ride of Kings in Moravia or the Easter races among the Wends. 
Someone going visiting would never ride a horse, they'd harness the horse to a
wagon and ride the empty wagon. I lived in Poland for a year ages ago, and while
I commonly saw people riding in horse-drawn wagons, even in the streets of
Krakow, I never saw anyone ride horseback (except for once at a folk festival
reenacting wedding invitations).

There are exceptions to the rule of course - from what I've read, Slavs who do
ride horses include the plains folk in western Poland (Biskupizna area), and the
Hutsuls in the Carpathians (one source I read attributed this to a Turkic
substrata there).

I'm not clear about western Europe. Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?

Over in Asia on the other hand, people seem to be in the horse rider camp. I
realize Asia is a big place, but I think of Turks, Mongols, Tatars, Tibetans,
all horseback riders.

Any thoughts on this from our world travelers?  Do I just not get out enough?

Joe

The Wallachian Colonization, with its organized system of livestock breeding,
also included the pasturing of non-bearing cows.  Under the fold system, these
cows would be driven out to mountain pastures and ridges, where a herdsman
remained with them during the entire summer grazing season.  Similarly, oxen and
horses also grazed in remote pastures, unless they were needed as a draft team.

In the Central and Northern Slovak basins, sheep breeding played an important
role in livestock production.  In the first half of the 18th century, sheep
grazed in these areas in significantly greater numbers than now.  Sheep also
grazed in the flatter areas of Slovakia, but their numbers increased toward the
mountain areas.  There were villages where one serf family kept 10-12 sheep, but
there were also families who kept 20-30 sheep.

In Slovakia, there were two kinds of sheep that were pastured during that time. 
The first were the so-called Wallachian sheep
[http://www.classicnatureprints.com/pr.Wood%20Animals/wood.wallachian.jpg >],
breeding of which prevailed on feudal estates.  The second kind were the
so-called birky [an aside:  "birka" is a Hungarian word for sheep], which were
sometimes also called Moravian or Czech sheep [??? <
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3288249993_7e2c275c85.jpg >]; these were
bred mainly on feudal land-estates.  Birky sheep had shorter and softer wool
than Wallachian sheep.

H
All opinions my own


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I saw a riding club in a small  town on a prior to trip to SK in 2007.  But
that was either a jumper club or dressage.

I did see a lovely young lady riding through town on a warm spring day in Hlucin
CZ last year.  So perhaps that is a recent phenomenon.

My 1.5 cents, since I no longer have 2.

--- On Fri, 7/30/10, Armata, Joseph R <armata@...> wrote:

From: Armata, Joseph R <armata@...>
Subject: [Slovak-World] Slavs and Horseback Riding
To: "Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com" <Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 9:56 AM







 









       One of Helen's latest agriculture posts mentioned horses. I find it
interesting that some ethnic groups traditionally ride horses, while others use
them only as draft animals. (I'm not talking about horse riding as a sport among
the upper classes, but about daily village/town life.)



My impression is that the Slavs, at least the northern group (Eastern & Western)
are decidedly in the draft animal category. They don't ride horses except for
ritual or special occasions like inviting people to weddings, or spring horse
rituals like the Ride of Kings in Moravia or the Easter races among the Wends. 
Someone going visiting would never ride a horse, they'd harness the horse to a
wagon and ride the empty wagon. I lived in Poland for a year ages ago, and while
I commonly saw people riding in horse-drawn wagons, even in the streets of
Krakow, I never saw anyone ride horseback (except for once at a folk festival
reenacting wedding invitations).



There are exceptions to the rule of course - from what I've read, Slavs who do
ride horses include the plains folk in western Poland (Biskupizna area), and the
Hutsuls in the Carpathians (one source I read attributed this to a Turkic
substrata there).



I'm not clear about western Europe. Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?



Over in Asia on the other hand, people seem to be in the horse rider camp. I
realize Asia is a big place, but I think of Turks, Mongols, Tatars, Tibetans,
all horseback riders.



Any thoughts on this from our world travelers?  Do I just not get out enough?



Joe

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?
>
> Over in Asia on the other hand

A great observation, Joe.  The Asian Ugric tribes (later Hungarians) that
invaded Central and Western Europe in the 10th cent. had an important advantage
in this, which helped them destroy Great Moravia, pillage Rome, etc.  The
European farmers traditionally kept the much stronger heavy/draft horses, the
nimble riding breeds were kept by the nobility.


Martin

My first visit to  CzechoSlovakia was in 1971.  In my travels through Moravia,
Zahorie and East to Poprad, I saw people going to fields and through villages
using horse and oxen driven wagons. 
I suspect that living in this way was out of necessity and traditional due to
the strict control by Magyar rulers then  inability to modernize because of the
2 world wars, then communism.
Life was traditionally hard and  our people could only use the tool available
to them. 
I think you will find that Slovaks did raise and train now famous breeds of
horses and I was told by my grandfather the area around Piestany and along the
Vah river was such an area.
the horse breeding was not for use by the Slovaks but for the Magyar
aristocracy.
Most possibly that was the reason for the Hutsel people breeding the most
popular breed, the Hutsel horse.
Life has been very hard for our people.  They had no way to obtain money for
more than the bare necessities and usually only the few  Jewish population,
official tax collectors for the aristocracy, had the means to have businesses,
with few exceptions.
For that reason our people immigrated to the USA with the aim of making a
"fortune", returning home and making an easy life for their families.
Because of the poor living conditions, horses were used for work transportation
of families and not pleasure.
Development of train transportation was not until after ours.   Therefore
wagons were the only means of transport between towns and cities.
I am not an historian and the information I have is mostly handed down to me
from my grandparents.  This includes those facts told to them by their parents.

Vilo
--- On Fri, 7/30/10, LongJohn Wayne <daxthewarrior@...> wrote:

From: LongJohn Wayne <daxthewarrior@...>
Subject: Re: [Slovak-World] Slavs and Horseback Riding
To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 11:55 AM







 









       I saw a riding club in a small  town on a prior to trip to SK in 2007. 
But that was either a jumper club or dressage.



I did see a lovely young lady riding through town on a warm spring day in Hlucin
CZ last year.  So perhaps that is a recent phenomenon.



My 1.5 cents, since I no longer have 2.



--- On Fri, 7/30/10, Armata, Joseph R <armata@...> wrote:



From: Armata, Joseph R <armata@...>

Subject: [Slovak-World] Slavs and Horseback Riding

To: "Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com" <Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com>

Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 9:56 AM



 



One of Helen's latest agriculture posts mentioned horses. I find it interesting
that some ethnic groups traditionally ride horses, while others use them only as
draft animals. (I'm not talking about horse riding as a sport among the upper
classes, but about daily village/town life.)



My impression is that the Slavs, at least the northern group (Eastern & Western)
are decidedly in the draft animal category. They don't ride horses except for
ritual or special occasions like inviting people to weddings, or spring horse
rituals like the Ride of Kings in Moravia or the Easter races among the Wends. 
Someone going visiting would never ride a horse, they'd harness the horse to a
wagon and ride the empty wagon. I lived in Poland for a year ages ago, and while
I commonly saw people riding in horse-drawn wagons, even in the streets of
Krakow, I never saw anyone ride horseback (except for once at a folk festival
reenacting wedding invitations).



There are exceptions to the rule of course - from what I've read, Slavs who do
ride horses include the plains folk in western Poland (Biskupizna area), and the
Hutsuls in the Carpathians (one source I read attributed this to a Turkic
substrata there).



I'm not clear about western Europe. Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?



Over in Asia on the other hand, people seem to be in the horse rider camp. I
realize Asia is a big place, but I think of Turks, Mongols, Tatars, Tibetans,
all horseback riders.



Any thoughts on this from our world travelers?  Do I just not get out enough?



Joe



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

When I was in Zakopane, Poland in '05, two young men rode horseback
through the center of the town.  It added interest and nice sound to
the video I was taking.  Julia Matchett

On Jul 30, 2010, at 9:56 AM, Armata, Joseph R wrote:

> One of Helen's latest agriculture posts mentioned horses. I find it
> interesting that some ethnic groups traditionally ride horses, while
> others use them only as draft animals. (I'm not talking about horse
> riding as a sport among the upper classes, but about daily village/
> town life.)
>
> My impression is that the Slavs, at least the northern group
> (Eastern & Western) are decidedly in the draft animal category. They
> don't ride horses except for ritual or special occasions like
> inviting people to weddings, or spring horse rituals like the Ride
> of Kings in Moravia or the Easter races among the Wends. Someone
> going visiting would never ride a horse, they'd harness the horse to
> a wagon and ride the empty wagon. I lived in Poland for a year ages
> ago, and while I commonly saw people riding in horse-drawn wagons,
> even in the streets of Krakow, I never saw anyone ride horseback
> (except for once at a folk festival reenacting wedding invitations).
>
> There are exceptions to the rule of course - from what I've read,
> Slavs who do ride horses include the plains folk in western Poland
> (Biskupizna area), and the Hutsuls in the Carpathians (one source I
> read attributed this to a Turkic substrata there).
>
> I'm not clear about western Europe. Maybe not riding horses is
> Europe-wide?
>
> Over in Asia on the other hand, people seem to be in the horse rider
> camp. I realize Asia is a big place, but I think of Turks, Mongols,
> Tatars, Tibetans, all horseback riders.
>
> Any thoughts on this from our world travelers? Do I just not get out
> enough?
>
> Joe
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I do know that emmigrants in the US, mostly farmers, kept horses for only work
purposes. Laura Ingels Wilder's father used the 'team' 6 days a week on the
farm, and let them rest Sunday's. So the family walked to church. The girls
walked miles to school in all kinds of weather. I assume this was a custom
brought from Europe. And in Britain before the advent of the tractor, teams of
horses were for ploughing and farm work. Attached is a picture of a huge team
pulling an old harvester.

Also, the price of a saddle would be beyond most people's means. Harness could
be made at home with blacksmith parts. But a saddle was more complicated than
any furniture or wagon. Ask my sister, she rode English for years. Saddles are
locked up even today because of their value. A poor farmer could barely afford
the leather of his boots much less a saddle..



To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
From: votrubam@...
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:27:56 +0000
Subject: [Slovak-World] Re: Slavs and Horseback Riding






> Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?
>
> Over in Asia on the other hand

A great observation, Joe. The Asian Ugric tribes (later Hungarians) that invaded
Central and Western Europe in the 10th cent. had an important advantage in this,
which helped them destroy Great Moravia, pillage Rome, etc. The European farmers
traditionally kept the much stronger heavy/draft horses, the nimble riding
breeds were kept by the nobility.

Martin





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> the price of a saddle would be beyond most people's means.

The key thing was that they were _draft/heavy horses_ (i.e., breeds that are
different from riding horses), Claudia.  They were not trained to be saddled
(and it would not even be that easy to put a saddle on them or sit on them
simply because of their body structure).  That type, a draft/heavy horse, was
what "a horse" commonly meant in Europe throughout much of its more distant
history.


Martin

By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road fast nimble  horses.


In a message dated 7/30/2010 11:32:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
votrubam@... writes:




> Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?
>
> Over in Asia  on the other hand

A great observation, Joe. The Asian Ugric tribes  (later Hungarians) that
invaded Central and Western Europe in the 10th cent.  had an important
advantage in this, which helped them destroy Great Moravia,  pillage Rome, etc.
The European farmers traditionally kept the much stronger  heavy/draft horses,
the nimble riding breeds were kept by the  nobility.

Martin






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Many of our folk songs attest to this.

vilo

--- On Fri, 7/30/10, coptic2@... <coptic2@...> wrote:

From: coptic2@... <coptic2@...>
Subject: Re: [Slovak-World] Re: Slavs and Horseback Riding
To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 10:31 PM







 









       By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road fast nimble 
horses.





In a message dated 7/30/2010 11:32:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

votrubam@... writes:



> Maybe not riding horses is Europe-wide?

>

> Over in Asia  on the other hand



A great observation, Joe. The Asian Ugric tribes  (later Hungarians) that

invaded Central and Western Europe in the 10th cent.  had an important

advantage in this, which helped them destroy Great Moravia,  pillage Rome, etc.

The European farmers traditionally kept the much stronger  heavy/draft horses,

the nimble riding breeds were kept by the  nobility.



Martin



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road
> fast nimble  horses.

Of course.  They could not have ridden the horses that the farmers kept.


Martin

>> By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road
>> fast nimble  horses.
>
> Many of our folk songs attest to this.

There are no folk songs about "the Slovak cavalry."  All the Slovak folk songs
concerning the army and horses refer to the Habsburg army, the army of the
Austrian monarchy.


Martin

...not to beat a dead horse, as far as this thread is going, but wasn't the
Hapsburg army that of the Hungarian Empire as opposed to the Austrians'. Or were
they one in the same?
----- Original Message -----
From: votrubam <votrubam@...>
To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:02:19 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: [Slovak-World] Re: Slavs and Horseback Riding













>> By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road


>> fast nimble  horses.


>


> Many of our folk songs attest to this.



There are no folk songs about "the Slovak cavalry."  All the Slovak folk songs
concerning the army and horses refer to the Habsburg army, the army of the
Austrian monarchy.



Martin








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Martin,
I didn't agree with "Slovak Cavalry", I understood it to mean mean, Slovaks
riding in the Cavalry, as in the song Slovak som a Slovak budem.
That song so impressed me as a 6 year old, I used to dream of me riding a big
white horse, wearing a cape and brandishing a shiny sword.

And this made me feel brave:
 

neumriem na slame,


umriem ja na koni


a ked z kona spadnem,

sablenka zavoni

Z Bohom,

Vilko

--- On Sat, 7/31/10, votrubam <votrubam@...> wrote:

From: votrubam <votrubam@...>
Subject: [Slovak-World] Re: Slavs and Horseback Riding
To: Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010, 12:02 AM







 









       >> By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road

>> fast nimble  horses.

>

> Many of our folk songs attest to this.



There are no folk songs about "the Slovak cavalry."  All the Slovak folk songs
concerning the army and horses refer to the Habsburg army, the army of the
Austrian monarchy.



Martin

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> "Slovak Cavalry", I understood it to mean mean, Slovaks
> riding in the Cavalry

Understood, Vilko.


> wasn't the Hapsburg army that of the Hungarian Empire as
> opposed to the Austrians'. Or were they one in the same?

They were one and the same, Larry.  Even after the 1867 compromise and
hyphenation of the monarchy (_Austro-Hungarian_ instead of the previous
_Austrian_), the army remained centralized and united, as did the whole
country's finances and foreign policy.  The three corresponding departments
(government ministries) were only in Vienna, not in Budapest.  BTW, there never
was an entity called the "Hungarian Empire," the only name the body politic ever
had was _the Kingdom of Hungary_.


Martin

Free cooking lessons at the Slovak festival in Chicago in September. Prob will
do pirohy and halusky, plus we'll cook a batch of goulash. Stay tuned for more
details.

Here is the link to the festival
page: http://www.slovakchicago.org/Slovak_Folklore_Festival_Chicago_2010.html.
  -- Lubos Brieda --
Slovak recipes: www.slovakcooking.com
hikes and travel: www.iamlubos.com




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wouldn't you just know it!!!  That is the day of my Patriot's Day Memorial at
church, so not no way, not no how can I get to meet you Lubos, rats!!!
Maybe next year.


Caye

--- On Sat, 7/31/10, Lubos Brieda <lbrieda@...> wrote:

From: Lubos Brieda <lbrieda@...>
Subject: [Slovak-World] Chicago festival
To: slovak-world@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010, 8:12 AM
















 









       Free cooking lessons at the Slovak festival in Chicago in September. Prob
will

do pirohy and halusky, plus we'll cook a batch of goulash. Stay tuned for more

details.



Here is the link to the festival

page: http://www.slovakchicago.org/Slovak_Folklore_Festival_Chicago_2010.html.

  -- Lubos Brieda --

Slovak recipes: www.slovakcooking.com

hikes and travel: www.iamlubos.com



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While it is true that there was no "Slovak cavalry", there were Hussar regiments
that were made up primarily from the Slovak regions of Hungary. During the
Napoleonic era, the Austrian Army had the largest cavalry in all of Europe. 
They had approximately 45,000 soldiers in various types of cavalry units. 
Hussars were light cavalry and came primarily from Hungary.  In 1800, the 10th
Hussar regiment came from what is now Eastern Slovakia and the 8th Hussars came
from what is now Western Slovakia.  Because the Austrian Cavalry was so large at
this time, young men who could ride were usually conscripted into cavalry units.
Shepherds were also more likely to be placed in cavalry units than farmers.  And
since it took longer to train a horseman vs someone in the infantry, cavalry
soldiers typically had to serve actively for longer periods before being placed
in the reserves.

--- In Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com, "votrubam" <votrubam@...> wrote:
>
> >> By grandfather was in the Slovak cavalry and they road
> >> fast nimble  horses.
> >
> > Many of our folk songs attest to this.
>
> There are no folk songs about "the Slovak cavalry."  All the Slovak folk songs
concerning the army and horses refer to the Habsburg army, the army of the
Austrian monarchy.
>
>
> Martin
>

> it is true that there was no "Slovak cavalry", there were
> Hussar regiments that were made up primarily from the
> Slovak regions of Hungary

Of course.  The Habsburg army made units of people with the same mother tongue,
Slovak, Romanian, Hungarian, Croatian, German... in order to facilitate
communication.


Martin

. . . more pictures near Mecca and a great article with pictures on the "Iron
Silk Road."

You can view them at:

http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

Russ

Which kind of sheep was kept for bryndza?  Yummy




________________________________
From: "Fedor, Helen" <hfed@...>
To: "Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com" <Slovak-World@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, July 30, 2010 10:46:39 AM
Subject: [Slovak-World] Traditional agriculture--48

 
The Wallachian Colonization, with its organized system of livestock breeding,
also included the pasturing of non-bearing cows. Under the fold system, these
cows would be driven out to mountain pastures and ridges, where a herdsman
remained with them during the entire summer grazing season. Similarly, oxen and
horses also grazed in remote pastures, unless they were needed as a draft team.

In the Central and Northern Slovak basins, sheep breeding played an important
role in livestock production. In the first half of the 18th century, sheep
grazed in these areas in significantly greater numbers than now. Sheep also
grazed in the flatter areas of Slovakia, but their numbers increased toward the
mountain areas. There were villages where one serf family kept 10-12 sheep, but
there were also families who kept 20-30 sheep.

In Slovakia, there were two kinds of sheep that were pastured during that time.
The first were the so-called Wallachian sheep
[http://www.classicnatureprints.com/pr.Wood%20Animals/wood.wallachian.jpg >],
breeding of which prevailed on feudal estates. The second kind were the
so-called birky [an aside: "birka" is a Hungarian word for sheep], which were
sometimes also called Moravian or Czech sheep [??? <
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3288249993_7e2c275c85.jpg >]; these were
bred mainly on feudal land-estates. Birky sheep had shorter and softer wool than
Wallachian sheep.

H
All opinions my own

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> Which kind of sheep was kept for bryndza?

In principle, both, but in practice, the Wallachian sheep were traditional.  The
"birkas" were the newer Merino sheep.


Martin