Transcript chapter7
Central Europeans, People of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and Scandinavia Chapter 7 Introduction Some of the earliest and largest ethnic groups to the US Contributions include ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Bread baking Dairy farming Meat processing Beer brewing Central Europe FSU/Russian Federation Germany Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Hungary Belarus Romania Georgia Czech Republic Kazakstan Slovakia Kyrgyzstan Poland Rep of Moldavia Switzerland Tajikistan Liechtenstein Turkmenistan FSU/Baltic States Ukraine •Estonia Uzbekistan •Latvia •Lithuania Immigration Patterns: Germans Largest ethnic group in US and least visible Earliest in early 1700’s ◦ Pennsylvania Dutch seeking religious freedom German farmers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana Second group in 1800’s ◦ Farmers and their families Early 1900’s ◦ Unmarried industrial workers ◦ Descendants of Germans who had settled in Russia 1930’s brought Jewish refugees After WWII there were German refugees Immigration Patterns: Poles Earliest to US was 1608 Most came between 1860 and 1914 ◦ German ruled areas of Poland ◦ Western Germany After 1890 Poles from areas under Austrian and Russian rule ◦ Chicago, Buffalo, and Cleveland After WWI came from political dissatisfaction Immigration Patterns: Others Austrians ◦ Initially classified with Hungarians and unskilled ◦ Austrian Jews fled Hitler’s arrival Hungarians ◦ Early immigrants were wealthy political refugees after 1848 ◦ Later Ohio, West Virginia, N Illinois, Indiana coal mines Czechs ◦ Nebraska, Wisconsin, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota farmers ◦ Skilled laborers settling in the urban areas of New York, Cleveland, and Chicago. Immigration Patterns: Others Slovaks ◦ Northeast and Midwest ◦ Coal mines, steel mills, and oil refineries Swiss ◦ Artisans or professionals ◦ Urban areas of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Gypsies or Roma ◦ Insular ethnic group found throughout the world ◦ In US primarily from central Europe Immigration Patterns: FSU ◦ Often listed as Russians Lithuania ◦ After 1861 and then after WWII Ukraine ◦ Recruited to coals mines of Pennsylvania ◦ Factory work in Ohio, New York, and Michigan Armenia ◦ First in 1890 for economic opportunity ◦ Armenians from Turkey came after both WW ◦ Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, and the agricultural region of Fresno, California. Current Demographics and Socioeconomic Status Germans ◦ Some maintain aspects of their heritage ◦ higher in economic achievement and are generally conservative in attitudinal ratings ◦ Heavy anti-German sentiment after WWI ◦ Rapid assimilation Poles ◦ Just below or solidly at middle-class level ◦ Formation and leadership in labor unions Current Demographics and Socioeconomic Status: Others Austrian ◦ Clothing and tailoring, mining ◦ Bakeries, meatpacking operations, and restaurants Hungarians ◦ Urban, white collar workers ◦ Engineers Czech ◦ Sales, machinist, or white-collar jobs ◦ Founded businesses in cigars, beer and watches Current Demographics and Socioeconomic Status: Others Slovak ◦ White collar families with high incomes ◦ Strong family and cultural ties likely Swiss ◦ Multicultural, multilingual ◦ Work in Swiss companies Gypsies ◦ Tradition of roaming, are very mobile ◦ Independent trades and service positions ◦ Women are often in the mystical arts Fortunetelling Current Demographics and Socioeconomic Status: Russia/FSU Recent immigrants settle in urban areas ◦ Ukrainians in PA ◦ Armenians in CA Most have easily assimilated ◦ In part due to anticommunist sentiments Recent immigrants with advanced degrees Recent Armenian immigrants may be far below poverty line Worldview – Religion: Germans Early immigrants primarily Lutheran Some Jewish Some Roman Catholic Mennonites ◦ From the Anabaptist movement ◦ Simple lifestyle ◦ Rejection of oaths, public office, military service Amish ◦ Strict sect of Mennonites ◦ No electricity or cars Worldview – Religion: Poles, Others Poles ◦ Devout Catholics Austrians ◦ Most Catholic ◦ Some Jewish Hungarian and Slovaks ◦ Primarily Catholic Czech ◦ Catholic, but many have left the church Worldview – Religion: Gypsies From Asian Indian religions Worldview called Romaniya ◦ Believe in God, devil, ghosts, and predestination. ◦ Persons and things are either pure or polluted. ◦ Preserve purity ◦ Avoid contamination through contact with non-gypsies Some Gypsy Americans are Christian ◦ Often fundamentalists ◦ Combined Christian and Gypsy concepts Worldview – Religion: Russians and People of the FSU Russia ◦ Majority are of the Russian Orthodox Church ◦ Soviet Jews Ukrainian and Lithuanian Americans ◦ Roman Catholic Armenian Americans ◦ Armenian Apostolic Church ◦ Armenian Rite of the Roman Catholic Church Worldview: Family Germans ◦ Traditionally large families on farms, later in businesses. ◦ Pennsylvania Dutch (descendants of German immigrants) and the Amish still have large families Poles ◦ Patriarchal with mother caring for home. ◦ Wives and children rarely worked outside the home Family: Others Austrian ◦ Tight nuclear family with father in charge of finances and mother ruling home life. Czech and Hungarian ◦ Male dominated with many relatives. Slovaks ◦ Strong family ties with respect for parents. Family: Gypsies Maintain extended family Temporarily band together while traveling with multifamily groups. Father in charge of all public matters Women take care of family income and manage all money matters ◦ Retain power due to ability to communicate with the supernatural world Arranged marriages are common Family: Russians Traditionally large families Women legally dependent on their husbands ◦ Changing ◦ Families are smaller due to women working and with more education ◦ Still maintain all household chores Russian families have fewer children Education emphasized ◦ Russian language Family: FSU Ukrainian and Lithuanian early immigrants were single men who were basically forced to intermarry with other ethnic groups. Men dominate the household Women run the home Extended family is the norm Armenians are tight-knit with respect for elders maintained All are similar to the average American household Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Germans German biomedicine uses botanicals extensively Illness may be believed to be caused by infection or stress Expected consequence of hard labor Dress properly, avoid drafts, breathe fresh air Exercise, work hard Take cod liver oil Suffering is “a blessing from God” Lots of home remedies used Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Pennsylvania Dutch Hearty diet Home remedies, homeopathy, healers common Sympathy healing ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Laying on of hands Powwowing or Brauche Charms, spells, and blessings to cure symptoms Healer acts as God’s instrument and requests God’s direct assistance in treatments Reflexology Herbal Teas Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Poles Shortage of medical supplies in Poland led to widespread use of faith healers Faith in God Religious medals Avoid sick people Healthy diet Sleep Keep warm Exercise Loving home Avoid gossip Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Gypsies Health maintained through marimé ◦ Purity and pollution related to Asian Indian beliefs Separate clean from unclean ◦ Upper body and all secretions pure ◦ Lower half unclean and shameful ◦ Avoid contamination of upper body by touching lower body Left hand only for personal care Menstrual blood especially impure ◦ Avoid public places non-Gypsies frequent ◦ Don’t touch contaminated surfaces Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Gypsies Illness due to ◦ Contact with non-Gypsies ◦ Conditions caused by spirits, ghosts, the devil, or breaking cultural rules Home remedies Gypsy healers Non-Gypsy conditions are suitable for treatment by non-Gypsy physicians ◦ May still consult a non-Gypsy folk healer Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Russian and the FSU Natural cures, alternative medicine used extensively Often integrated with biomedical therapy Saunas Massage Steam baths Balneotherapy ◦ Bathing in mineral springs Mud baths, sulfurated hydrogen baths Homeopathic preparations and herbals Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices: Russian and the FSU Magic and the occult ◦ Cure illnesses due to supernatural ◦ Psychics and Znakarki Elder women who whisper charms and sprinkle water with magic powers Siberia ◦ Spiritual crisis, soul loss, evil spirits, breach of taboos, curses ◦ Shamans realigned life forces, retrieved souls Visualization, singing, chanting, prognostication, dream analysis, séances Russians who don’t believe in occult practices ◦ Illness from social conflict, political problems, war, poor medical care, starvation Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods Determined by what grows in cooler, damper climates Potatoes, Beans, Beets Cabbage and cabbage family Eggs and Dairy products Pork, Beef, Fish Seafood from the Baltic Fresh fish from local lakes Apples Rye, Wheat, Barley Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods Dried, pickled, or fermented for preservation ◦ Cucumber pickles ◦ Sour cream ◦ Sauerkraut Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients & Common Foods: Breads Rye and other grains Darker ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Whole or cracked wheat Black Rye or pumpernickel Caraway, egg, or potato Cornmeal Pretzels Dumplings ◦ May be stuffed or unstuffed Pastries Stuffed pockets Buckwheat - Russia Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients & Common Foods: Meats Pork is the most popular ◦ Goose ◦ Schnitzel German Holidays ◦ Chicken Kiev Meat cutlet ◦ Ham Beef ◦ Sauerbraten ◦ German National Dish Veal ◦ Young calf Poultry Russia Game meats ◦ Hasenpfeffer German rabbit dish ◦ Bigos Polish “Hunter’s Stew” Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Ground Meats Seasoned with a binder to stretch meat when it was expensive or scarce Steak Tartare ◦ Raw ground beef on toast Ground meat to stuff vegetables or make meatballs Hungary known for gulyás ◦ Goulash ◦ Paprika-spiced stew ◦ Sweet Hungarian Paprika is ground, dried, red chile peppers with sugar added Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Sausages (Wurst) Rohwurst ◦ Cured and smoked ◦ Can be eaten as is Bruhwurst ◦ Kikielbasa Garlic flavored Kockwurst ◦ Like a cold cut Austria ◦ Wieners ◦ Frankfurter Polish Czechs and Slovaks Bratwurst ◦ Jaternice ◦ Similar to raw sausage links ◦ Jelita from pork blood sausage Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Fish Fresh and salt water fish ◦ Fresh, smoked or cured Trout, carp, and eel Germany ◦ Pickled herring Russia ◦ Smoked salmon and sturgeon Caviar (sturgeon roe) Poland ◦ Fish is not popular as associated with Soviet rule Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Dairy products Eaten daily Cheeses served at any meal May be fresh and sweet or strongly flavored Fresh milk Butter Butter milk ◦ Kefir (FSU) Sour cream Fresh cream Whipped cream daily in Austria and Germany Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Fruits/Vegs Cold weather fruits and vegetables Red and green cabbage Potatoes Beets Kohlrabi Cucumbers Onions Mushrooms ◦ In Poland a meat substitute on religious fast days Temperate vegetables more common now ◦ Cauliflower and tomatoes Apples, cherries, plums, berries Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Sweets Enjoyed daily Cheesecake, coffee cakes, doughnuts, nut or fruit-filled individual pastries Apple, cherry, raspberry, chocolate, almond, poppy seed flavors Austria: ◦ Apple strudel Germany: ◦ Black Forest Cake Lithuania and Poland: ◦ Branch Cake Russia ◦ Cooked fruits such as the berry pudding kisel Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Beverages Central Europe ◦ Coffee is most common Russia ◦ Strong tea ◦ Served in samovar Brass urn heated by charcoal Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Beverages Germany, Austria, Hungary, ◦ Beer most popular ◦ Excellent wines German beer can be sweet, bitter, weak strong and typically bottom-fermented ◦ Lager ◦ Bock beer is strong flavored ◦ Marzenbier Midway between pilsner and bock ◦ Weissbier Wheat beer with lemon or raspberry fruit syrup ◦ Schnapps Fruit brandy Traditional Food Habits: Ingredients and Common Foods: Beverages Czechs ◦ Pilsner Beer Bitter but light in color Poland ◦ Goldwasser Has flakes of gold ◦ Mead Fermented from honey Russia ◦ Kvass Sour beer fermented from rye bread or beets ◦ Vodka Distilled spirit from potatoes Popular in Poland and Russia Switzerland Known for Fondue ◦ Hot dish of melted cheese, etc., in which food is dipped Zesty cheeses with holes ◦ Emmenthal Original Swiss cheese ◦ Gruyère. Armenia Cuisine greatly influenced by Greeks, Turks, Persian, Syrians and other Arabs Word for bread is “meal” or “food” Lamb is staple meat, pork rarely eaten Freshwater fish Yogurt and cheese daily Fresh, dried and pickled fruits and vegetables Armenian Dinner Mezze with anise-flavored aperitif raki Soups made with yogurt, eggs, lemon, tomatoes Salads Kebabs, stew or casserole Bread such as pita Fruit for dessert Coffee, tea, than ◦ Yogurt thinned with water and flavored with mint Wine and brandy Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns Central Europe ◦ 5 – 6 large meals daily in the past ◦ Today 3 meals plus snacks Gypsies ◦ Two meals daily ◦ Morning and late afternoon ◦ Social occasions Russia and the FSU ◦ 3 hearty meals daily ◦ Snacking is rare Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns: Central Europe Breakfast ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Coffee Tea Hot chocolate Pastries Bread and fruit OR A small sandwich Lunch ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Bread Butter and jam Hardboiled eggs Cheese Ham Midmorning breakfast ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Soup Fish, 1-2 Meat dishes with vegetables Stewed fruit Dessert with whipped cream Mid-afternoon break ◦ Coffee or tea, cake or cookies Evening meal ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Lighter Salads Pickled or smoked fish Cheese, ham and sauces Selection of breads Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns: Russia and the FSU Bread Soup made from beets ◦ Borscht Cabbage Fish Kasha ◦ Cooked porridge from barley, buckwheat or millet Lithuania ◦ Soup is replaced with salad Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns: Russia Czars ate 4 meals daily Zakuski ◦ Part of the traditional czarist evening meal ◦ “Small bites” ◦ Still part of Russia today ◦ An array of appetizers ◦ From simple to countless Etiquette More formal than Americans Germany ◦ Invitations for dessert or wine later in the evening Host begins meal with appropriate announcement Gifts are good quality dessert wines, candies, or pastries ◦ Not Vodka where it is served Fork in left hand, knife in right ◦ In Germany do not use knives unless absolutely necessary ◦ Knife to cut potatoes, etc., an insult as it implies the food is tough Hands above the table with wrists on edge Pass dishes to left Specific glasses for each beverage that will be refilled quickly ◦ Consume vodka in one shot Special Occasions Usually have religious significance Traditions often have pre-Christian roots Christmas and Easter are major holidays Immigrants brought to the US ◦ Christmas tree ◦ Easter egg hunt Special Occasions: Germany Land of popular festivals Lots of food and drink Munich’s Oktoberfest ◦ Sausage eating and beer drinking ◦ World’s largest public event Easter bunny hides eggs on Easter Ham and pureed peas for Easter dinner Special Occasions: Germany Advent and Christmas are holiest seasons ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Tree lit on Christmas Eve Christ Child brings presents Take tree down on Epiphany Large dinner on Christmas Christmas Carp on Christmas Eve Hare or goose with apples and nuts on Christmas Day Marzipan Spice cakes Cookies Fruit cakes Gingerbread houses Special Occasions: Poland Christmas and Easter are the most important Easter dinner ◦ Roast suckling pig, hams, coils of sausages and roast veal ◦ Painted hard boiled eggs, grated horseradish ◦ Paschal lamb sculpted from butter or white sugar ◦ Babka is a rich yeast cake ◦ All food blessed by the priest Special Occasions: Poland Christmas Eve is a fast day ◦ Meatless meal served when the first star of the evening is seen ◦ Barszcz Wigilijny Soup similar to borscht made with mushrooms and beets ◦ Carp on Christmas Even ◦ Makowiec A rich Christmas cake New Year’s Eve ◦ Paczki Jelly doughnuts New Year’s Day ◦ Bigos ◦ Washed down with vodka Special Occasions: Czech Republic Czechs ◦ Eat carp four ways at Christmas Breaded and fried Baked with dried prunes Cold in aspic Fish soup ◦ Vanocka Christmas bread ◦ Easter dinner is ham or roasted kid Special Occasions: Slovakia Christmas Break Advent fast with oplatky Easter Dinner dessert called paska ◦ Wafer with honey Christmas Eve meal ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Wild mushroom soup Cabbage Potato dumplings Stuffed cabbage Mulled wine Babalky ◦ Pyramid shaped dessert Meal will be blessed by the priest on Holy Saturday Ham, sausages, duck or goose Horseradish Syrek ◦ Easter cheese Bread with poppy seeds Hrudka ◦ Imitation cheese ball Special Occasions: Hungary Easter is most important holiday Pancakes are eaten on Shrove Tuesday Sour eggs and herring salad on Ash Wednesday Easter week has new spring vegetables and painted Easter eggs Good Friday meal with wine-flavored soup, stuffed eggs and baked fish Special Occasions: Easter Feast of Easter Eve ◦ Rich chicken soup with dumplings or noodles ◦ Roasted meat ◦ Pickled vegetables ◦ Stuffed cabbage rolls ◦ Cakes and pastries ◦ Coffee Special Occasions: Hungary Christmas Eve ◦ Meatless with fish and potatoes Christmas Day ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Roast turkey, chicken or goose Roast potatoes Stuffed Cabbage Desserts Brandied fruits Fruit compote Poppy seed and nut cakes Special Occasions: Austria Christmas and Easter Fasching ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Originally a pagan ceremony Drive out the evil spirits of winter Parade down the streets ringing cow bells Now a multi-day carnival associated with Lent ◦ Doughnuts, fritters, other sweets are typical food Special Occasions: Russia and the FSU Fast days ◦ Fish ◦ Mushrooms Forest meat Easter is most significant holiday Butter Festival ◦ Maslenitas ◦ Precedes the 40 days of Lent ◦ Blini Raised buckwheat pancakes Numerous toppings Butter is traditional as can’t be consumed during Lent Special Occasions: Russia and the FSU Easter meal after midnight Mass ◦ Pasha Cake decorated with XB (Christ is Risen) ◦ Kulich Cake made from rich, sweet yeast dough ◦ Red or hand decorated eggs Pentecost (Trinity) Sunday ◦ Kulich leftover from Easter eaten Special Occasions: Russia and the Ukraine Christmas Eve ◦ 12 different dishes represent the 12 apostles ◦ Kutia or Sochivo Porridge of wheat grains, honey, poppy seeds and stewed, dried fruit Christmas Day celebrated with festive meal New Year’s ◦ Children receive gifts ◦ Spicy ginger cakes Krendel ◦ Pretzel shaped sweet bread ◦ Eaten on wedding anniversaries and name days Therapeutic Use of Food: Germans Chicken soup ◦ Diarrhea, vomiting, sore throats Tea ◦ Upset stomach Milk with honey ◦ Coughs Pennsylvania Dutch ◦ Cold drinks are unhealthy ◦ Eat meat 3 times per day ◦ Herbal teas for many complaints Therapeutic use of food: Poles Colic ◦ Tea, soda water, sauerkraut Cramps ◦ Chamomile tea Colds ◦ Tea with dried raspberries ◦ Wine High blood pressure ◦ Cooked garlic Coughs ◦ Warm beverages “Sweat out” an illness ◦ Tea with honey and alcoholic spirits Therapeutic Use of Food: Gypsies Fresh food most nourishing ◦ Leftovers unwholesome ◦ Canned and frozen items not fresh Non-Gypsies carry disease ◦ Use disposable plates and utensils in public places Insufficient intake of lucky foods cause poor health ◦ Salt, pepper, vinegar, garlic Home remedies are common ◦ Tea with crushed strawberries ◦ Asafetida (devil’s dung) ◦ Ghost vomit (Fuligo septica) Therapeutic Use of Food: Russia & the FSU Butter ◦ Eyesight Dill ◦ Kvass cures hangovers ◦ Dyspepsia Honey Teas ◦ Raspberry, chamomile, eucalyptus, cornsilk Vodka with herbs ◦ Supplement ◦ Consumed as a shot ◦ Added to coffee or tea Gogomul ◦ Egg yolk, sugar, milk, baking soda ◦ Respiratory infections Balsam flavored vodka ◦ Cures anything ◦ Flatulence Alcoholic beverages Full hearty meals ◦ To maintain health Adaptations of Food Habits in US Diet not significantly different from U.S. fare Quantity did increase ◦ Especially of meat Many traditional foods have become common US fare 3 meals a day but with more dairy and sausages More traditional meals served at special occasions Amish families celebrate religious holidays only ◦ Add a day to the celebration ◦ Celebrate quietly at home with family Nutritional Status Central European diet among highest in animal products, potatoes, sweets, refined/processed items Germany ◦ Highest in fats and oils of animal origin ◦ 50% German woman are obese, 66% for men Slightly lower rates in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary Recent Russian and FSU immigrants consume diet high in saturated fats, sodium, sugar All at risk of developing CVD and other conditions associated with high-fat items Nutritional Status: Russia and FSU Immigrant nutritional deficiencies from lack of vegs/fruit Dietary selenium deficiency, moderate iron and manganese deficiencies High rates of diabetes, HTN, HLD, CVD, TB, HIV Leukemia and thyroid cancer rates increased ◦ 80% of Russian immigrants from regions affected by Chernobyl May resist x-rays Nutritional Status: Russia and FSU Strongly support breastfeeding High rates of iron-deficiency anemia and endemic goiter Heavy alcohol use in Russia, some FSU nations and Poland High rates of gastric cancer Lithuania ◦ Due in part to a high consumption of salted and cured meats and fish Homemade cheeses with unpastuerized milk ◦ Increased risk of listeria Eggs sometimes used raw in uncooked dishes ◦ Increased risk of salmonella Nutritional Status: Gypsies Boston Study: ◦ High rates of HTN, Type 2 Diabetes, Vascular disease ◦ Obesity at 85% ◦ Chronic renal insufficiency Europe ◦ Dyslipidemia, obesity and insulin resistance At risk for genetic problems ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ PKU Galactokinase deficiency Citrullinaemina Wilson’s Disease Metchromatic Leucodystrophy High rates of infant mortality and unfavorable birth outcomes Life expectancy overall is low Counseling May be a language barrier with Russians Germans – monochronistic ◦ Formal, polite, respect education and titles ◦ Direct eye contact and handshake Poles – quieter than Americans ◦ Uncomfortable with loudness ◦ Handshake and direct eye contact Both may be reluctant to seek medical care Counseling: Amish May need an interpreter Reserved and respectful and expect it in return Conservative and modest Modern health technology ok No photos, pictures, depictions of human faces More digestive problems, obesity, bedwetting High fat, high sodium diet Less issues with heart disease, alcoholism Genetic issues such as PKU more common Counseling: Gypsy Americans English may be second language Illiteracy common “Man’s worth is in his girth” May seek care only in emergencies May refuse injections ◦ Impure Will bring food to patients ◦ Contamination feared Counseling: Russians Russians expect more formality May always respond “no” Direct and possible loud communication 3 quick kisses and handshake common greeting Direct eye contact Preventive medicine unfamiliar Compliance issues with medication or lifestyle changes Avoid mental health care Counseling: Russians Many feel ailments/treatments not understood in US Culture specific ailments not familiar in US Medical care in Russia drugs with alternative treatments Prefer injections over oral meds May self medicate Assertive in US as they had to be assertive in Russia Many are highly acculturated Scandinavians Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland History of Scandinavians in the US Legend says Norsemen first discovered North America Documented presence in US ◦ 1629 when Jonas Bronck (Danish) bought land that became known as the Bronx in NYC Immigration began in 1800’s ◦ Norwegians, Swedes primarily ◦ Few Icelanders Moved to homestead Midwest states Danes developed 24 Danish communities Current Demographics All assimilated well Were literate, valued education Norwegians and Sweded ◦ Continued farming in Midwest ◦ Construction Swedes ◦ Engineering, architecture Danes ◦ Livestock, dairying Finns ◦ Natural resource management, mining engineering, geology ◦ Women in home economics, nursing Worldview: Religion Majority who immigrated were Lutheran ◦ Evangelical Lutheran Church in America If not Lutheran, other Protestant churches Worldview: Family Nuclear family was center of rural life Large families with father head of household Kinship ties were strong ◦ Brought other relatives to US and helped them Smaller families now ◦ Finns often with one child Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices Fish necessary for good health Norway ◦ Cough and cold confectionaries ◦ Herbs and dietary supplement boost immune function Finns ◦ Natural health care ◦ Massage, cupping, bloodletting ◦ Sauna used for many things Swedish Massage ◦ Relaxation ◦ Increase circulation ◦ Promote Healing Traditional Food Habits Hearty and simple Abundant seafood Limited foods produced on land Preservation methods of previous centuries used ◦ Fish dried, smoked or pickled ◦ Milk is fermented or allowed to sour ◦ Preserve foods with salt Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Feature natural flavors with subtle seasoning ◦ Black pepper, onions, dill ◦ Juniper berries ◦ Caraway, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom Lots of FISH ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Scandinavian dried salt cod Pickled herring Lox Fish sticks Fish with cheese and breadcrumbs Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Cream and butter popular Lots of fermented dairy products ◦ Sour cream, cheese, buttermilk, yogurtlike products White sauce with milk and parsley ◦ Known for cheeses Common for breakfasts and snacks Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Meats more popular inland Pork is popular, veal, mutton and lamb Reindeer Game meats such as elk Goose and grouse, not chicken Historically meat was scarce and chopped and combined with other ingredients ◦ Swedish meatballs Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Cold weather vegetables (especially root crops) ◦ Rutabagas Yellow and green split pea soups with ham or pork ◦ Served with pancakes Wild mushrooms Berries ◦ Lingonberries Fruits stewed or made into preserves ◦ Sometimes served with meats Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Breads are often rye ◦ Norwegian flatbreads ◦ Swedish knäckebröd Like hardtack ◦ Norwegian lefse Potato and wheat flour dough ◦ Norwegian potato dumplings ◦ Tunnbrød from Sweden Thin, tortilla like bread Sold as fast food wrapped around fillings Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Desserts rich but not overly sweet Butter, cream, sweetened cheese, cardamom Aebelskivers ◦ Danish pancake puffs Pancakes or crepes served with berries or jams Almonds, almond paste or marzipan Danes known for their pastries ◦ Weinerbrød Ingredients and Common Foods: Staples and Regional Variations Milk is popular beverage Aquavit ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Water of life Distilling potatoes or grain Flavored with caraway or other herb Serve ice cold in a Y-shaped glass Down like a shot, chase with a beer Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns: Breakfast 3 meals a day 3 coffee breaks Breakfast ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Bread Eggs Pastries Cheese Fruit Potatoes Herring Sour cream or yogurt like fermented milk Fruit soups in winter Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns: Lunch Lunch in Denmark ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Smørrebrød Open-faced sandwich Means buttered bread May be a snack Swedes consume hot lunch ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Pea soup Brisket or hash Mashed rutabaga At work or school cafeteria Swedish Smörgåsbord Buffet meal Means “bread and butter table” Large variety of hot and cold dishes Served with Aquavit Starts with herring, then other fish dishes Meats and salads Hot dishes like Swedish meatballs and mushroom omelets Dessert Today served only on special occasions Meal Composition and Cycle: Daily Patterns: Dinner Heavier dinner if lunch is light ◦ Appetizer, soup, entrée, vegetables, dessert ◦ Potatoes If heavier lunch, lighter dinner ◦ Informal ◦ Convenience foods ◦ Italian foods 3 most common dishes in Swedish homes ◦ Falun sausage, spaghetti with meat sauce, pizza Milk, beer or wine ◦ Coffee or wine with dessert Etiquette Fork in left hand and knife in right Sandwiches consumed with fork and knife ◦ Only bread eaten with hands Keep hands above the table with wrists on edge Pass dishes to the left Finland: wait for host to initiate eating Norway: male guest of honor is to thank hosts on behalf of all guests Wine is always appreciated as a hostess gift as it is expensive Special Occasions Conferences and meetings Milk and coffee with sweets ◦ Cinnamon buns ◦ Open-faced sandwiches ◦ Fruit Sandwich cakes ◦ Layers of bread and fillings ◦ Served mid-afternoon at events Special Occasions: Christmas From Advent to St. Canute’s Day on January 13 Sweden ◦ December 13 ◦ St. Lucia’s Day Christmas Eve is the big meal Special Occasions: Christmas in Norway Rice porridge sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon Lutefisk ◦ Dried salt cod soaked in lye, then boiled Pork ribs and sausages with cabbage Dried lamb rib specialty with mashed rutabaga Cod or halibut with white sauce and green peas Boiled potatoes Cookies and cakes ◦ Traditionally 7 types of sweets Special Occasions: Christmas Christmas Smörgåsbord in Sweden ◦ 20 – 30 dishes ◦ Ham, herring Denmark ◦ Roast duck, goose or pork with brown gravy ◦ Red cabbage and caramelized potatoes ◦ Rice pudding with whipped cream and hot cherry sauce Finland ◦ Pickled herring and salmon, then ham ◦ Vegetable casseroles with potatoes, carrots, or turnips ◦ Prunes, cookies, pies Special Occasions: Christmas Dozens of cookies ◦ Ginger and cloves Tree hung with gingerbread figures Deep-fried, brandy-flavored dough ◦ Klejner, klener, klenätter Traditional holiday beverage ◦ Glögg ◦ Hot alcoholic punch Special Occasions: Midsummer’s Day June 24 ◦ Swede’s Day in the US Maypoles, bonfire, feasting Sweden ◦ Boiled new potatoes and wild strawberries Norway ◦ Rømmengrøt Finland ◦ New potatoes with dill and smoked salmon Adaptations of Food Habits Diet did not change significantly 3 meals a day ◦ Dairy products ◦ Animal protein Many Scandinavian foods adopted by Americans Nutritional Status: Intake In Finland ◦ 40% obesity for women, almost 60% for men ◦ Somewhat lower for Denmark, Norway, Sweden Finns ◦ High rates of heart disease, stroke, alcoholism, depression, lactose intolerance Scandinavian Americans may be at increased risk for CVD due to high fat, high cholesterol diet Counseling Low context communicators Highly analytical Emotions controlled Superficiality and personal inquiries are avoided Danes are less formal Direct eye contact Firm, brief handshake Other touching is reserved for friends and relatives Sickness considered a weakness Will avoid talking about it