Browse Digital Heritage

A tool for peace: interview with a Korean folklorist, Mr. Chi-Chung Kim

Documentary interview with Chi-Chung Kim, a folklorist who specializes in Korean percussive music, by Vong Pak at Mr. Kim's home in Queens. Chi-Chung Kim speaks about his 70 years playing Korean traditional pungmul percussive music and what Korean music means to him."

Community:

Brooklyn Public Library

Traditions:

Music

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St. Joseph's Day: A Sampling of Foodways

Learn about the Italian American St. Joseph's Table tradition in Western New York, as Bernice Falsone Hotchkiss introduces the foods and customs of the observance.

The St. Joseph's Day Table is a primarily Italian American tradition that honors the saint on his feast day, March 19. It recalls the answer to prayers for rain from drought-stricken faithful in Sicily in the Middle Ages, and their subsequent offering of a meal for travelers, strangers, the poor and the entire community in thanksgiving. This video takes you to a Table hosted by Bernice Hotchkiss in 2019, where she describes the foods and recalls how she began learning the recipes from older women in her community. The accompanying notes give more details on the traditional foods, their symbolism and current practice in western New York.

Community:

GO Art

Traditions:

Ritual

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Foodways

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Belief

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Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda/Day of the Dead Ofrenda

Porfiria Mijangos explains the elements of a traditional ofrenda for Day of the Dead in her region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Interview and footage are from the Day of the Dead celebration at Orleans YMCA, Medina, New York, November 1 2019. Members of her extended family built the large ofrenda seen here for the annual community-wide event.

Community:

GO Art

Traditions:

Ritual

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Foodways

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Material Culture

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Belief

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Oaxacan Sand Painting for Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead

The video documents the creation of a Oaxacan sand painting by Antonio Cruz Zavaleta, for Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration on November 1, 2019, held at the Orleans County YMCA, Medina NY.

Community:

GO Art

Traditions:

Ritual

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Material Culture

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Belief

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The Use of Wampum Belts

Otgoä (wampum) is a vital part of Haudenosaunee culture. Wampum are shell beads that are created from whelk and quahog clam shells. The brittle pieces are rounded, sanded, and drilled to make a bead. Because of the effort that is needed to make a bead, wampum is highly valued.

Community:

City Lore

Traditions:

Material Culture

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How Haudenosaunee Cornhusk Dolls Came to Have No Face

Haudenosaunee storytelling is not meant to just entertain but to also teach. Stories are used to warn against dangerous and bad behavior, uphold valued qualities, and teach good decision making. If you travel to different Haudenosaunee communities, you will discover that each community may have their own version of a story. There is no one version that is upheld over the others, but if you listen you will discover that although the details may be slightly different, the lessons taught remain the same.

Community:

City Lore

Traditions:

Material Culture

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Arthur Garabedian - Carpentry

Learn from longtime carpenter Arthur Garabedian about growing up in the Armenian community in Niagara Falls, teaching carpentry at the renowned Trott Vocational School in Niagara Falls (NY), and his work on local community projects, including the front doors of St. Sarkis Armenian Church, which brightly feature his design of the Armenian cross.

Community:

Traditions:

Material Culture

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Occupation

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Mary Movesian - Needlework

Learn from Mary Movesian about the different types of needlework arts she learned growing up in Armenia: from lace-making and embroidery to crochet and knitting.

Community:

Traditions:

Material Culture

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Ophelia Adjemian - Seamstress

Learn from Ophelia and her granddaughter Gayane about Ophelia’s life as a seamstress, memories of Gayane growing up at Alteration Station, working together with her daughter (Mary Movesian), and the meaningfulness of creating Armenian traditional dance dresses for Gayane.

Community:

Traditions:

Material Culture

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Sonya Gregian & Rachele Aversa - Rice Pilaf and St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church (Kitchen)

Learn about the role of rice pilaf in Armenian households and community events, and cooking together at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church's kitchen, from Rachele Aversa and Sonya Gregian, two longtime members of the Armenian community in Niagara Falls.

Community:

Traditions:

Verbal Arts

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Foodways

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Survive, Remember, Thrive: Armenian Traditions in Western New York

"Survive, Remember, Thrive: Armenian Traditions in Western New York" is a documentary video series produced by the Folk Arts Program at the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University that celebrates local expressions of Armenian culture and heritage through a short film and shortform videos. In the series' lead short film, "Survive, Remember, Thrive", learn about the history of the Armenian community in Niagara Falls through the lived experiences of Ani Avdoian, Dawn Sakalian, and Kathy Peller: how their families were affected by the Armenian Genocide, their families' resettlement in Niagara Falls, and the types of traditions they maintain and pass on within their family and throughout the local community.

Community:

Traditions:

Verbal Arts

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Foodways

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