Tagged “Diaspora Life”
Browse Tagged “Diaspora Life” from the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society archive, library and community collections.
The Final Farewell
When a villager dies— a friend, a parent, or a brother— then we begin to think deeply: why do we quarrel, my friends? The phone rings early— who could it be, who could it be now? The message is a sorrowful one: so-and-so has died today. The news keeps spreading until everyone has heard— another villager is gone from this city. Young and old gather together in the biting cold, to stand before the ...
Macedonian Costumes with Marvin Moehle - “kostumi za obleka Q & A”
The Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society is hosting a workshop at Canadian Macedonian Place featuring Marvin Moehle, a passionate collector of Balkan—especially Macedonian—folk costumes. With ancestral roots in villages from the Kostur region, Marvin has built an extensive private collection of hundreds of historical costume pieces and has even contributed to museum exhibits. Known for his expertise, he helps identify and preserve rare garments and is also deeply involved in folklore dance and the collection of Macedonian oral and written histories. The event invites participants to bring their own costume items or photos to learn more about their cultural heritage.
YOU (MIGHT) KNOW MORE MACEDONIAN THAN YOU THINK YOU DO!
The Canadian Macedonian Historical Society hosted a lecture by Christina Kramer titled “You (Might) Know More Macedonian Than You Think You Do!” which explored how elements of the Macedonian language persist within the diaspora, even among those who no longer speak it fluently. Through a community questionnaire, Kramer revealed that Macedonian words and phrases often remain embedded in everyday life, especially in emotional or cultural contexts. The talk emphasized the importance of heritage language—how it is retained, used, and passed on—and encouraged reflection on preserving Macedonian identity and linguistic traditions within families and communities.
Spero Thompson - GRANDMOTHER MACEDONIA
Dear Macedonia, land of mountains Land of villages You have known wars, occupations Bitter Church struggles and cultural pillages. Motherland of my Father And his Fathers before him By inheritance you are my Grandmother And in spirit we are kin. Though my eyes have never seen you Or my feet walked throughout your land I make this promise Baba Makedonija One day on your soil I will stand. My Father emigrated at ...
Spero Thompson - MACEDONIANA; OUR TREE OF LITERATURE
From our origin in the garden of Eden man has a close relationship with trees. In contemplation of our group of writers The Brothers Miladinov Macedonian Poetry Society it occurred to me that we are very much like a tree, a tree of Literature Like a tree we have four parts, roots, trunk, branches and leaves. Also as an expression of life we produce fruit ( our writings) As to our genus we are of the Macedonian Oak ...
Spero Thompson - SPOKEN TO IN MACEDONIAN ANSWERING IN ENGLISH
I consider myself fortunate in having had a happy childhood. I lived and grew up in the Regent Park area of Cabbagetown in the City of Toronto. In the 1940`s this area was heavily populated with immigrant Macedonian families. They liked to live in close proximity to St. Georges Macedonian Church located on the corner of Regent Street and Sutton Avenue. My Father was an immigrant from the village of Oshchima in ...
Spero Thompson - ILINDEN (An Historical Inheritence)
Ilinden was the day chosen for the uprising of the people When, the Fathers of modern Macedonia With their brave compatriots Rose to throw off the Turkish yoke. Formed in the fire of revolution, self awareness as a nation Ilinden the forge, Macedonia the anvil, Freedom the hammer Macedonia for Macedonians was their rallying cry Of their resolve for independence, their martyrdom spoke. For a few historic days, the ...
Spero Thompson - SPIRIT OF MOTHER MACEDONIA (sweet singer of song)
Dear patriotic spirit and Mother of the people Many children emigrated from you with deep regrets To their new lands, languages and hope No matter distance; it`s Mother no child ever forgets. With song you nourish your peoples soul As when you sang at Ilinden That day the Narod rose up to say We are not Bulgars, Greek or Serb, we are Macedonian Mother Macedonia sweet singer of song Please sing us a song for today ...
Steve and Lilly Pliakes
Steve Pliakes or Stefo Plakov, as he prefers to introduce himself, is a Canadian Macedonian, or Macedonian Canadian whose origin is from the beautiful Macedonian village of Zeleniche, in the region of Lerin, from the Aegean part of Macedonia. He is well recognized among the Macedonians in Canada and in the United States.
