draugas

Another View: How Students of Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds See Lithuanian Culture

  After the Chair for Lithuanian Studies was endowed in the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 1984, UIC launched a new course under the title “Lithuanian Culture.” Prof. Violeta Kelertas taught the course until 1994. Then I was hired to teach it. During two decades over 700 students …

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Hot soup will keep you warm

CABBAGE SOUP Kopūstų sriuba ½ medium head of cabbage, shredded 1 lb. sauerkraut 5 cups chicken stock (low-sodium can be used, if preferred) 2 cups water 1½ lbs. smoked ham hocks 5 whole peppercorns 2 whole bay leaves 2 medium tomatoes, cored, seeded and diced 1 medium onion, chopped In …

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On the Trail of Our Lietuvininkai Ancestors in Texas

By Liuda Žiaugra On the Trail of Our Lietuvininkai Ancestors in Texas IT IS ALMOST A DECADE SINCE WE FIRST BEGAN TO find items in the Lithuanian American press about Lithuanians emigrating from Lithuania Minor to Texas some 150 years ago. At that time and in subsequent articles in the …

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What is Kūčios without fish?

HERRING  WITH  MUSHROOMS Silkės su  grybais 3 herrings 1/2 lb.  dried mushrooms 2 onions 2 Tbsps.  cooking oil Soak herrings overnight in cold water. Skin, fillet and slice. Boil mushrooms in water till soft; drain and slice fine. Slice onions, fry lightly in oil. Add mushrooms and dash of pepper. …

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Rediscovering a Lost Heritage

By John J. Chernoski (Černiauskas) REDISCOVERING A LOST HERITAGE THE HOLOCAUST HAS NEARLY ERASED FROM OUR collective memory a people who were long a vibrant part of the Lithuanian scene – the Litvaks (Lithuanian Jews.) During the 14th century Grand DukeGediminas encouraged immigrants to assist in the economicgrowth of the …

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The Battle of Durbė – 13 July, St. Margaret’s Day, 1260

BY AL (ALVYDAS) KARAŠA LESS WELL KNOWN THAN THE crusades in Outremer, crusading wars in the Baltic region were just as bloody and fruitless as those in the Holy Land. Crusading was an ongoing military occupation, supported politically by European rulers, and sanctioned by the Church. Just as Pope Urban …

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It’s apple season

APPLE CRISP Traškus obuolių pyragas 4 Tbsps. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup packed light-brown sugar ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup rolled oats 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ½ cup chopped walnuts 4 apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch dice 2 Tbsps. fresh lemon juice Preheat the …

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‘Lituanica’ – the Unsolved Mystery

BY ALGIS GINTAUTAS Lituanica’ – the Unsolved Mystery 75 years after a still-unexplained crash killed the two Lithuanian flyers who were trying to establish a new record in aviation history, the cause of the crash and their death continues to be a mystery. JULY 15-17, 2008 MARKS THE 75TH ANNI- …

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Cool soups for a hot summer

COLD BEET SOUP šaltibarščiai 4 cooked red beets, peeled and coarsely grated (canned beets can also be used) 2 fresh medium-size cucumbers, finely cut 2 hard-boiled eggs 6 Tbsps. sour cream 4 cups sour milk or buttermilk 1 cup boiled water 8 sprigs fresh dill, finely chopped 1 cup scallion …

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Pagan Lithuania

By Gloria Kivytaitė O’Brien Lithuanians were some of the last people in Europe to embrace Christianity. Among the reasons for this was their deep attachment to their old beliefs and the ruthlessness of the “baptizers.” AS THE CRUSADES IN THE HOLY LAND raged on, the Roman Catholic popes, in the …

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