Culture & Community
About Our Heritage
What does it mean to be Slavic? What is Slavic Culture?
Slavic people can be identified by their distinctive ancestry, culture, and language. If your ancestors came to North America from Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, or Ukraine, there’s a good chance you are of Slavic heritage.
Slavic culture draws on Eastern, Western, and Southern European traditions deeply rooted in nature, community, and folklore. Key cultural traditions include vibrant folk music and costumes, beautifully intricate embroidery, and detailed woodcarving. Slavs are also proud of many cherished rituals and holidays, which center around celebrating the seasons, honoring ancestors, and fostering community.
The Mahoning Valley has a proud Slavic population. This history is highlighted by the different cultural celebrations and festivals all around our region that celebrate the food, music, dance, and customs of the various Slavic ethnicities living in the Greater Youngstown area.
Music & Dance Traditions
Slavic folk arts and performances are vibrant and region-specific. Deeply rooted in communal traditions, their art serves as a connection to ancient, pre-Christian rituals and regional identity. Slavic music is characterized by close-interval harmonies and asymmetrical rhythms and incorporates traditional ethnic instruments such as the gusle, gadulka, kaval, and balalaika. For hundreds of years, Slavs have proudly preserved these cultural art forms through folk ensembles, festivals, and storytelling.
Faith & Family Customs
Family Celebrations
Slavs put great importance on family. Family members often live in close-knit, multigenerational groups, and they place a high value on kinship and ancestral veneration.
Religious Traditions
Traditional Slavic faith and family customs are rooted in pre-Christian, nature-based polytheism, and a type of double faith (dvoeverie) that blends pagan rituals with Orthodox Christianity.
Hospitality & Food
Simply Slavic celebrates the rich traditions of the Mahoning Valley’s Slavic culture by showcasing the distinctive customs of our area’s many Slavic ethnicities. Our events feature live music, folk dance performances, homemade food, educational exhibits, and ethnic vendors.
By enhancing the community’s knowledge of these lively peoples through a joyful, family-friendly experience, we hope to honor the shared past of our beloved ancestors by educating and enriching the lives of a future generation.
