Kashubian Heritage
In the 1860s Winona had the largest population of Kashubian immigrants in the United States . Because so many people of Kashubian heritage settled in Winona it is important to understand this unique group of people.
The Kashubian people come from a small area in Europe that is roughly the size of New Mexico . It is located in the northwest part of what is now Poland , and sits within close proximity to Germany . It also features the Baltic Sea along its northern border (where men embroider).
The Kashunbian People are a unique group of people with a unique language. They speak Kashubian, a language that is not understood by the Poles, partly because it has more than 70 dialects. Because of this, the Poles only recognize a few Kashubian words. Stanislaw Frymark, a native of Poland , told the Winona Daily News that “the Kashubs have many different dialects because there are many small towns and villages where most families have stayed for generations without needing to alter their language” (Ehrlick).
According to the article “…where men embroider and a churl (gbur) is a landlord…” posted on AcrossPoland.com, embroidery and wicker works are important elements of the Kashubian heritage. Kashubs are famous for their embroidery; in fact, the craft is so common that men in this area also embroider. Kashubia has five different schools were it is taught; some schools were created as early as the year 1200. They mainly embroider wild flowers such as forget-me-nots and Tulips, which are used in the embroidery found in their churches. Their wickerwork has been around almost as long as their embroidery. In the early days shepherds would use thin roots to weave buckets and baskets. This craft is still practiced in Kashubia today (where men embroider).
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Polish Embroidery Pattern |
AcrossPoland.com also states that “Another craft that is still practiced today is bread baking.” Many households still use the old outdoor bread ovens of past generations. In the past many households baked bread on Saturdays to last the whole week. The two main ingredients found in the old bread recipes were soured milk and potatoes. Some families still bake bread according to the old recipes, especially around Christmas, Easter, and harvest time (where men embroider).
Other traditional foods include salted herrings and eel. They also make a dark soup out of duck or pig blood, which is served to bachelors who are denied a maiden's hand (where men embroider).
When the Kashubian people immigrated to Winona they were not accepted by the German immigrants with open arms. Frymark explained that “Kashubian people were thought to never be Polish enough for Poland and never German enough for Germany ” (Ehrlick). The Kashubs chose to find their own niche within Winona by helping create Polish newspapers, churches, banks, and the Polish Legion.