Aegean Macedonians

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Aegean Macedonians Егејски Македонци Egejski Makedonci
Total population
150,000 - 200,000
Regions with significant populations
Greece 10,000 - 30,000(est.) [1][2]  Republic of Macedonia 52,000 - 72,000 (est.) [3]  Australia 2,892(2006 census)a - 28,000 (est.) [4][5]  Albania 4,231 (1989 census)b [6]  Canada 26,000 (est.) [7]  United States 30,000 (est.) [8]  European Union 20,000 (est.) [9]
Languages
Macedonian, Aegean Macedonian Dialects and Greek
Religions
Predominantly Macedonian and Greek Orthodox
Footnotes
a By Birthplace Only b Sometimes considered to be Aegean Macedonians

"Aegean Macedonians" (Macedonian: Егејски Македонци, Egejski Makedonci) or simply "Aegeans" (Macedonian: Егејци, Egejci) refers to those ethnic Macedonians who live in, or who originate from, the Greek region of Macedonia.

Contents 1 History 1.1 National Liberation Front 1.2 Refugee Children 1.3 The Return to Greece 2 Persecution and Discrimination 3 Culture 4 Education 5 Religion 6 Language 7 Media 8 Diaspora 8.1 Republic of Macedonia 8.2 Canada 8.3 Australia 9 Notable Aegean Macedonians 10 See also 10.1 Multimedia 11 External links 12 References

[edit] History

Slavic tribes began settling in the region of Macedonia in the 6th and 7th centuries. By the 10th century Slavs were the majority population in Macedonia.^{[citation needed]} During Ottoman rule, most of the Orthodox Slavic population of Macedonia had not formed a national identity separate from their neighbors and were instead identified through their religious affiliation.

The Ottoman Empire grouped population groups based on religious orientation.^[10] (see Millet) The people in Macedonia, at that time a roughly defined region, that were under the jurisdiction of the Greek Patriarchate were thus considered "Greeks". Those under the Bulgarian Exarchate were thus considered "Bulgarians". This was not only the case for the Slavs but was also applied to other groups including the Aromanians, both churches forcibly assimilated the Slavic population. The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) was founded in 1893 in Ottoman Thessaloniki by several teachers and professionals who sought create a militant movement dedicated to the independence of Macedonia. Many Aegean Macedonian Slavs participated in the Ilinden Uprising in hope of liberation from the Porte. After the Balkan Wars in 1913, Greece took control of southern Macedonia and began an official policy of forced assimilation (Hellenised) which included the settlement of Greeks from other provinces into southern Macedonia, as well as the linguistic and cultural Hellenization of Slav speakers^[11] which continued even after the First World War.^[12]

On August 10, 1920, upon signing the Treaty of Sèvres, the Greek government reiterated that "measures were being taken towards the opening of schools with instruction in the Slavic language in the following school year of 1925/26". Thus, the primer intended for the children of the "Slavic-speaking minority" to learn their native language in school, entitled "Abecedar" was offered as an argument in support of this statement. However, no such schoolbooks ever reached any classrooms. The Situation for Slav Macedonians became unbearable when the Metaxas regime took power in 1936.^[13] Place and personal names were forcibly Hellenized and the native Macedonian dialects were banned even in personal use.^[14] It was during this time that many ethnic Macedonians fled their homes and immigrated to the US, Canada and Australia.

During the Second World War, many ethnic Macedonians fought for the Greek side until the country was overrun in 1941. Many ethnic Macedonians joined the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and participated in partisan activities. The KKE expressed its intent to "fight for the national self-determination of the repressed (ethnic) Macedonians"^[15].In 1943, the Slavic-Macedonian National Liberation Front ((SNOF)) was set up by ethnic Macedonian members of the KKE. The main aim of the SNOF was to obtain the entire support of the local population and to mobilize it, through SNOF, for the aims of the National Liberation Front (EAM)^[16]. Another major aim was to fight against the Ohrana party^[17]. During this time, the ethnic Macedonians in Greece were permitted to publish newspapers in the Macedonian language and run schools^[18]. Following the German withdrawal from Macedonia much of the region was dragged into the ensuing Greek Civil War.

[edit] National Liberation Front

Further information: National Liberation Front (Macedonia)

The National Liberation Front was organized by the political and military groups of the ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece, active from 1945-1949. At first, the NOF organized meetings, street and factory protests and published illegal underground newspapers. Soon after it founding, members began forming armed partisan detachments. In 1945, 12 such groups were formed in Kastoria, 7 in Florina, and 11 in Edessa and the Gianitsa region.^[19] Many Aromanians also joined the ethnic Macedonians in NOF, especially in the Kastoria region. The NOF merged with the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE) which was the main armed unit supporting the Communist Party. Owing to the KKE's equal treatment of ethnic Macedonians and Greeks, many ethnic Macedonians enlisted as volunteers in the DSE (60% of the DSE was composed of ethnic Macedonians).^[20] It was during this time that books written in the Macedonian language were published and ethnic Macedonians cultural organizations theatres were opened.^[21] According to information announced by Paskal Mitrovski on the I plenum of NOF on August 1948, about 85% of the Slavic-speaking population in Greek Macedonia had an ethnic Macedonian self-identity. It has been estimated that out of DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were Slavic Macedonians from Greek Macedonia.^[22][23] Given their important role in the battle^[24], the KKE changed its policy towards them. At the fifth Plenum of KKE on January 31, 1949, a resolution was passed declaring that after KKE's victory, the Slavic Macedonians would find their national restoration as they wish^[25]

[edit] Refugee Children

Futher Information :The Child Refugees

The DSE was slowly driven back and eventually defeated. Thousands of ethnic Macedonians were expelled and fled to the newly-established Socialist Republic of Macedonia, while thousands more children took refuge in other Eastern Bloc countries.^[26] In Macedonian they are known as Децата бегалци/Decata begalci. Many of them made their way to the US, Canada and Australia. Other estimates claim that 5,000 were sent to Romania, 3,000 to Czechoslovakia, 2,500 to Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary and a further 700 to East Germany.^[27] Macedonian sources claim up to 213,000 Aegean Macedonian fled Greece at the end of the Civil War.^[28] Other sources estimate that 52,000 - 72,000 people in total were evacuated to the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.^[29]

[edit] The Return to Greece

Since the end of the Greek Civil War many Aegean Macedonians have attempted to return to their homes in Greece. A 1982 amnesty law which stated "all Greek by Genus who during the civil war of 1946-1949 and because of it have fled abroad as political refugees" had the right to return, thus excluding all those who did not identify as ethnic Greeks.^[30] This was brought to a forefront shortly after the independence of the Republic of Macedonia in 1991. Many ethnic Macedonians have been refused entry to Greece because their documentation listed the Slavic names of the places of birth as opposed to the now-official new Greek names, despite the Child Refugees, now elderly, only knowing their village by the local Macedonian name.^[31] These measures were even extended to Australian and Canadian citizens. Despite this, there have been sporadic periods of free entry most of which have only ever lasted a few days.^[32]

[edit] Persecution and Discrimination

A widespread policy of Hellenisation was implemented after World War One.^[33] Many Slavic toponyms were deprecated in favour of the official Greek forms, while Slavic inscriptions from churches were removed.^{[citation needed]} By 1936 the situation for many Aegean Macedonians had become intolerable, causing many to emigrate^[34]. Their native speech was banned in everyday use and even within their own households while personal names were also forcibly changed from Macedonian to Greek ones^[35]. Many people who broke the rule were deported to the islands of Thasos and Cephalonia^[36] but generally they just had to pay a fine of 30-40 drachmas for speaking the Macedonian language or were arrested. Most Ethnic Macedonians were forced to learn Greek at night schools.^[37]. Many people were also forced to evacuate the border regions with Yugoslavia.^[38]. However this situation was completely reversed during World War Two and the Greek Civil War when the Slavic Macedonian culture and language were allowed to flourish.

However the situation deteriorated after the Communists lost the Greek Civil War. By 1959 several 'language oaths' had been introduced whereby the inhabitants of certain villages would "renownce their Slavic dialect and speak only Greek".^[39] Many of the people who fled during the Greek Civil War were stripped of their Greek Citizenship and Property.^[40] During the Cold War many other cases of discrimination against people who identified as Ethnic Macedonians and the Macedonian language have been reported.^[41] A 1982 amnesty law excluded all people who identified as non-Greeks from return, this included Ethnic Macedonians^[42].

[edit] Culture

Further information: Macedonian culture (Slavic)

Aegean Macedonian culture is very similar to that of other Ethnic Macedonians. Yet many regional folk songs and dances are performed and practised.^{[citation needed]} They celebrate many Greek and Ethnic Macedonian holidays. Kostas Novakis is an ethnic Macedonian singer from Greece, who performs songs in the Macedonian language. The lerinsko oro/lerin dance, with origins in the region of Florina, is also popular amongst Aegean Macedonians. Other Aegean Macedonian dances popularized by the Boys from Buf include the Bufsko Pušteno and Armensko Oro. Recently world renowned Ethnic Macedonian dance group, Tanec toured through Greece. Greece has blocked attempts by Aegean Macedonians to establish the Home of Macedonian Culture (Macedonian: Дом на Македонската култура, Greek: Stegi Makedonikou Politismou) despite being convicted for a violation of freedom of association by the European Court of Human Rigts.^[43]

[edit] Education

Aegean Macedonians in Greece attend Greek language schools as the Macedonian language is not taught in Greece. The Abecedar primer originally printed in 1925 was designed for Slav language students. Many Ethnic Macedonians learned Macedonian throughout the Greek Civil War. The Abecedar primer was reprinted in 2006 by the Rainbow, Political Party, it was printed in Macedonian, Greek and English^[44]. Many of the Child Refugees learned Macedonian, Greek and the host countries language.

[edit] Religion

Part of a series of articles on Macedonians (ethnic group) Culture Language · Literature · Art Music · Cinema · Folklore Costume · Cuisine · Symbols Religion Macedonian Orthodox Church Roman Catholicism Greek Catholicism Islam · Judaism Protestants · Baptists History National Awakening Ilinden Uprising National Liberation War National Liberation Front Republic of Macedonia By region or country Republic of Macedonia Greece · Albania · Bulgaria Serbia · Slovenia · Croatia Australia · Canada · USA Sweden · Romania Switzerland · Germany Subgroups Aegean Macedonians Torbeš Other Articles List of Macedonians Macedonism · Holidays v • d • e

Most Aegean Macedonians are typically of the Orthodox Faith. Unlike other Ethnic Macedonians in the Republic of Macedonia many belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Recently many emigrants have joined the Macedonian Orthodox Church while most in Greece still follow the Greek Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Nikodim Tsarknias has recently caused controversy after trying to set up a Macedonian Orthodox Church in Greece. His house was stoned and vandalised by local youth reportedly because of his Ethnic Macedonian identity and Conversion to the Macedonian Orthodox Church.^[45][46] There have been attempts to consecrate a Macedonian Orthodox Church in the village Slatino, Greece^[47] while a church has been consecrated in Aridaia, Edessa.

[edit] Language

Further information: Macedonian language and Slavic dialects of Greece

The Aegean Macedonian's speak various dialects of the Macedonian language. The Dialects of the Macedonian language spoken in Greece are the Upper and Lower Prespa dialect's, the Florina variant of the Prilep-Bitola dialect, the Kastoria, Nestorion, Salonica-Eddessa and Serres-Drama-Lagadin-Goce Delčev dialect's. The various Slavic dialects of Greece are often considered as Macedonian. Many Aegean Macedonians have speak Greek. Many of the Child Refugees were educated in the Standard form of Macedonian, along with the host country's language, Greek and often Russian. Archimandrite Nikodim Tsarknias has recently called for the language to be used in Church Services. The Rainbow Party has called for the introduction of the language in Schools and for official purposes.^[48] In 2006 the Macedonian language primer Abecedar was reprinted in an informal attempt to reintroduce the language.^[49]

[edit] Media

Throughout the Greek Civil War many Macedonian language radio stations and newspapers were established and operating amongst the local population. After the KKE were defeated all of these were shut down and equipment dismantled. Until the fall of Communism there has been virtually no Macedonian language media in operation in Greece. Since then many informal types of Macedonian langauge media has been in operation in Greece. The Rainbow Party produces a journal named Zora^[50] which is in both Greek and Macedonian. Radio stations have also been shut down reportedly due to the use of the Macedonian language on air and the broadcasting of Ethnic Macedonian Music^[51] Macedonian Sound (Greek: Makedonikos Ichos) was notable example of this.

[edit] Diaspora

During the 19th and 20th century many Aegean Macedonians went on pečalba or seasonal work to many other regions of the Balkans. Eventually many Ethnic Macedonians made their way to America, Canada, Australia and Brazil.^[52] More still decided to emigrate after the Metaxas regime came to power^[53]. After the Greek Civil war thousands were expelled and fled to the Eastern Bloc before making their ways to Canada, America and Australia. Of the total number of people evacuated to the Eastern Bloc, 9052 went to Romania, 11,623 to Czechoslovakia, 11,458 to Poland, 7,253 to Hungary, 3,019 to Bulgaria and 11,980 were sent to the Soviet Union.

[edit] Republic of Macedonia

After the Greek Civil War the bulk of all Ethnic Macedonian refugees ended up in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia. Many refugees sent to the Eastern Bloc returned to theSocialist Republic of Macedonia in the 1950s. Many associations such as The Association of Macedonians from the Aegean Part of Macedonia and Association of Refugee Children from Aegean Macedonia were established in order to provide support and community. Every year a re-union of the Refugee Children is held in Skopje.

[edit] Canada

Many thousands of Aegean Macedonians emigrated to Canada in the 20th century. The settled primarily in Ontario. By 1910 an estimated 1090 Aegean Macedonians had emigrated to Canada.^{[citation needed]}. Many early Aegean Macedonian immigrants found industrial work in Toronto, either as factory hands or labourers in abattoirs, local sheet metal industries, or iron and steel foundries. From these jobs, they quickly progressed to the ownership of a great number of restaurants, grocery stores and butcher shops. Macedonian entrepreneurs and their descendants eventually employed their numerical strength within the food service industry as a catapult into a variety of larger and more sophisticated ventures. The majority of Macedonians today are employed in the professional, clerical and service sector of the economy. They set up many organizations such as The Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Ontario. In 1979 the "The Association of Refugee Children from Aegean Macedonia" (ARCAM) was set up in order to unite the former child refugees from all over the world. It was reported that chapters had been set up in Toronto, Melbourne, Perth, Skopje, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland. ^[54]

[edit] Australia

Further information: Macedonian Australian

The Aegean Macedonian people have had a long history with Australia. In 19th Century pečalba, working away from home, was a widespread Macedonian custom.^[55] The first Aegean Macedonian was Stojan Kenkov who came to Australian in 1914.^{[citation needed]} Pre-World War Two migration occurred in two waves: the first, in 1924, when the USA imposed heavy immigration restrictions and the second, after 1936, when the fascist regime of Ioanis Metaxas in Greece took power.^[56] The third wave occurred after the Greek Civil War when many ethnic Macedonians fled Greece. Charles Price estimates that by 1940 there were 670 Ethnic Macedonians from Florina and 370 from Kastoria resident in Australia.^[57] Charles Price also claims that by 1989 an estimated 21,140 could claim ethnic Macedonian ancestry from Greece.^[58] Peter Hill also estimates a figure of 50,000 Aegean Macedonians (including second generation and excluding the aegean Macedonians who identify as Greeks).^[59] 2.5% of adherents to the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Australia were born in Greece^[60] while 3,152 speakers of the Macedonian language were born in Greece and 2,919 people born in Greece claimed ethnic Macedonian ancestry or roughly 3.6% of the total population group.^[61]

Aegean Macedonians were essential in the establishment of the Macedonian Australia People league (Macedonian: Makedono-Avstraliski Naroden Sâjuz) which dominated ethnic Macedonian life throughout the 1940s and 1950s. They then went on to establish organizations and events such as Macedonian Cultural Week, Preston Makedonija, Makedonska Iskra, Macedonian Community of S.A, Nova Makedonija and many others.^[62]. There are Aegean Macedonian minorities in Richmond, Melbourne, Manjimup^[63], Shepparton, Wanneroo and Queanbeyan.^[64] The Church of St George and the Florina Community Centre and Day Care center was built in Shepparton the Aegean Macedonian hall - Kotori was built by 32 families from the village Kotori in Richmond. Another Church was established by Aegean Macedonians in Queanbeyan and a hall erected in Manjimup. Other Aegean Macedonians oragnizations include the "Aegean Macedonian Association of Australia" and the "Richmond Aegean Macedonian Cultural and Sporting Association.

[edit] Notable Aegean Macedonians

• Nikola Gruevski - Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia (father from Florina)
• Trifun Kostovski - the current mayor of Skopje (mother from Giannitsa)
• Kostas Novakis - Musician from Koufalia, Thessaloniki
• Nikodim Tsarknias - Macedonian monk from Aridaia, Edessa
• Krste Misirkov - Philologist and author of On Macedonian Matters, from Pella
• Dimitar Makedonski - 19th century Philologist from Ptolemaida
• Mihajlo Keramitchiev - Commander of the NOF
• Kata Misirkova - famous poet in the Republic of Macedonia (from Pella)
• Risto Kirjazovski - scientist and historian from Kastoria
• Paskal Mitrovski - Secretary of the NOF
• Nase Parisis - Human Rights activist and Rainbow member from Naousa, Imathia
• Pavlos Voskopoulos - Human Rights activist and Rainbow member from Florina
• Steve Stavro - Canadian businessman from Kastoria
• Mirka Ginova - NOF Fighter from Edessa
• Vasil Tupurkovski - Former member of Yugoslav Presidency
• Jagnula Kunovska - Jurist, Politician and Painter
• Giorgi Ajanovski - Painter and Lawyer
• Deni Stojčevski - Emigrant Educator
• Mihal Smatrakalev - Poet
• Dimo Todorovski - Sculptor
• Kiril Penušlinski - Folklorist
• Olga Genčova
• Dimitar Dimitrov
• Chris Joannou - Musician
• Steve Staios
• Steve Delianis - The former Victorian Police Commissioner.
• Marek Jankulovski - soccer player for A.C. Milan

[edit] See also

• Rainbow Party
• Slavic dialects of Greece
• Dialects of the Macedonian language
• Ethnic Macedonians
• Macedonians in Albania
• Slavophone Greeks

[edit] Multimedia

• Aegean Macedonian Folklore and Dance
• Ethnic Macedonians in Greece celebrating Illinden

[edit] External links

• The Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Ontario
• Pollitecon Publishers, Publishers of Books about Aegean Macedonians
• Website of Rainbow, Political Party
• First Aegean Shock Brigade (Macedonian)
• Human Rights Watch document: Denying Ethnic Identity - The Macedonians of Greece, April 1994
• OSCE-HDIM,WARSHAV 2006

[edit] References