The Populace
The influences of the climate,
diseases and war greatly
affected the position and
situation of the population.
The growth of the population was
constant. The economy was based
on agricultural cultivation and
livestock rearing. The average
age attained was 50 to 60
years. The major illnesses are
malaria, lung disease and
smallpox among children. The
Serbs honored St. Elias and
Nicholas as their church
patrons, mostly the latter in
Woika.
Schools
All of the schools were built
and funded by the community and
only the German school in
Alt-Pasua was erected by the
State. Every German school had
three classes and every Serbian
and Lutheran school had two
classes. Because of the
shortage of schoolrooms the
young people were taught
religion classes on Sundays.
Houses
The number of houses:
Alt-Pasua 396, Neu-Pasua 147 and
in Woika there were 266. Mode
of construction: stamped clay
adobe with reed roofs. In the
last 15 to 20 years many houses
had tile roofs. In Neu-Pasua
the houses were of solid
construction with the gable
facing the street.
The interior divisions of the
houses: One or two rooms faced
the street and one faced the
yard and in between them was the
kitchen. Cellars were seldom
dug because of the high water
table. Ovens were primarily
built out of lime while a few
were made of brick and tile.
The heat in the stove was
produced from straw and only
seldom with wood. The windows
were larger in German houses and
much smaller in the houses of
the others. In most cases the
stables were built separately
from the house.
Nutrition
The bread is good and made of
multi-grains. The meat dishes
consist of beef, mutton, pork
and fowl.
The German kitchen provides a
greater variety than that of the
Slovaks and Serbs.
Dumplings and noodles were the
major flour based foods. There
was very little fresh fruit
available. There were seldom
any fish. The Germans made
various foods using a milk base
while the Slovaks use milk far
less in cooking. The Serbs used
milk only during the summer
months when they milked their
sheep. The Serb enjoys fried
meat and during the three day
Christmas celebration large
families consume an entire one
year old pig. At Easter the
Serb slaughters a lamb. During
the holidays the Germans and
Slovaks are content to eat
various kinds of fowl.
Alongside of water both wine and
brandy are drunk. Of course
wine and brandy are only
available to those with
vineyards. Beer is not drunk.
Clothing
Men wear worn and
threadbare clothes on work days
and on Sundays and holidays they
wear new and better clothes.
Germans wear lighter clothing
made of cloth primarily in
shades of blue or dark colors;
their trousers are held up by
colored cords. During the
winter the German men are
attired in cloth or long fur
jackets. Slovaks and Serbs wear
darker outer garments made of
cloth and in winter, especially
the Serbs, many wear fur jackets
as well as fur trousers.
Women’s Clothing
Older German women
wear darker colors while
children wear brighter colors.
The Slovaks favored wearing
brighter colors. The Serbian
women were more extravagant in
their dress. During the winter
women primarily wore short cloth
coats or fur jackets that the
Germans call Csurak. Women’s
clothing is mostly made of
purchased dry goods.
Head Covering
In all three locales
men wear felt hats and in winter
wear black fur caps in winter. Women wear
kerchiefs on all occasions and
the Germans wear mostly dark
ones while the others tend to
wear bright ones.
Footwear
Both men and women, especially
when working in the fields wear
a type of sandal called Opanken.
On Sundays the Germans and
Slovaks wear lightweight shoes
called Schlappen. In all three
locales during the dry summer
months both women and children
wear special knitted footwear
both out of doors and in the
house. In the cold of winter
and during wet weather young and
old wear wooden shoes known as
Klumpen much like the Dutch
wooden shoe.
Traditions and Customs
Among the Serbs there are many.
Christmas is celebrated for
three days. In addition there
are celebrations in honor of the
patron saint of the household,
weddings, Christmas and Easter.
At both Christmas and Easter the
greeting is: “Christ is born”
or “Christ is risen.” The
person who is greeted in this
way, responds to the greeting in
the same manner, either “He is
born” or “He is risen.” On
Christmas Eve hay is spread
about in all of the rooms and
remains there during the next
three days. At the celebration
of their patron saint a special
loaf of church bread is baked
with a silver coin worked into
the dough. At the same
celebration wheat germ is
cooked, sweetened with sugar and
offered to guests, in the order
in which they arrive. The
Serbian bride is obliged to
undertake certain tasks: in the
first days of her marriage she
must wash the feet of her
father-in-law and when out on
the street she must kiss the
hand of all older people and
kiss children on both of their
cheeks. The Germans and Slovaks
have traditions and customs of
their own.
Superstitions
Some Serbs still believe in
witches. An old woman who does
not eat garlic counts as a
witch. There are Slovaks who
believe in vampires or
bloodsuckers. Many believe that
the ringing of bells in the
church tower can drive away
thunderstorms and lightning.
For many who are sick an old
woman with her household
remedies acts as their doctor.
Entertainment and
Amusements
Among older people, it consists
mostly of drinking bouts and
carousing. There is much
eating, drinking, singing and
dancing. The youth have the
greatest time, both on Sundays
and holidays and dance out in
the open in the centre of the
village. In the face of
inclement weather the dancing
and entertainment moves
indoors. During Church
celebrations the Serbs are known
for their generous offerings to
the church with gifts of 10 to
20 Florins or in kind, i.e. an
ox. At the time of Serbian
Church celebrations there is
usually the ringing of the
church bells and the firing of
gun salutes, and ceremonies take
place in the homes of richer
families involving rites
conducted by the priest. Toasts
are drunk to the leaders of the
nation, the princes of the
Church and other important
personages.
Germans celebrate their
Kirchweih (anniversary of the
dedication of their church) in
various traditional ways.
Guests from outside of the
community are richly entertained
and shown great hospitality but
no offerings or gathering of
gifts for the church are carried
out. In very much similar ways
the Germans and Slovaks
celebrate the Christmas
festival.
Reutlingen, June
1974
M. Huber
[Published at DVHH.org 18 Aug 2009]
Next:
Neu-Pasua From the Settlement to the
Flight
