Information AboutLemko |
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NAME AND SELF-DESCRIPTION Their name derives from their common use of an expression of speech, ''Lem'', which means ''but'' or ''only'' or ''like''. In the past, ''Lemko'' was the description given to them by their eastern neighbors - the Boykos and Hutsuls , who though speaking a dialect similar to the Lemko dialect, do not use the expression, ''lem''. Formerly, the Lemkos described themselves as Rusiny or '''Rusnaky'''. In the early 20th century, many, but not all of the Lemkos in Poland accepted the name change of their national identity from Rus' /Rusyn (Rus'ian, Rusnyak) or Ruthenian to the more modern term, Ukrainian . This phenomenon was less widespread in Slovakia . After WWII , it was decreed to call these people not Ruthenians but Ukrainians because it was the example of the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, nobody spoke about Ruthenians, they were only Ukrainians’. There have been tensions between the members of the Ukrainian and Ruthenian minorities living in Slovakia since the 1950s . Many representatives of this Minority were appointed to the top Communist functions because of their origin. That might be also why in Slovakia the word “Rusyn” still bears unpopular connotations of a village person. LEMKIVSHCHYNA The land of the Lemkos (Lemki), sometimes called "Lemkovyna," "Lemkivshchyna," or "Łemkowszczyzna," includes the higher elevations of the Carpathians of present-day Poland , extending to around the Poprad River to the west, and extending to the east as far as the region around Sanok , where it meets the Boyko region. The corresponding latitudes of the adjacent highlands of modern-day Slovakia are also included by some in the description of Lemko-land. DIALECT The Lemko dialect is considered by many linguists to be the western-most dialect of the Ukrainian Language . Lemko speech, however, includes patterns matching those of the surrounding Polish and Slovak Language s, and might be seen as a transitional dialect to Polish and Slovak (some even consider the dialect in Eastern Slovakia to be a dialect of the Slovak language). Besides, vocabulary of Lemko dialect is influenced by Romanian Language , like other Slavic dialects of Carpathian montagnards. In the late 20th century, some Lemki, mainly emigres from the region, mainly from the southern slopes of the Carpathians in modern-day Slovakia, began an effort to codify and standardize a Grammar for the local speech, under the designation "Lemko" or Ruthenian–Rusyn . HISTORY Lemkos are remainder of Valachian and Ruthenian settlers who arrived to the area later inhabited by the Lemkos in 14th century. Following linguistic assimilation of Valachian s their Romanian dialect was replaced by Ruthenian . However, Romanian dialects strongly influenced Slavic dialect of Lemkos. Also the material culture of Lemkos bears clear resemblance to the culture of the Romania n countryside. The area, part of Austria-Hungary until 1918, was the place where the Lemko Republic seceded from Austria-Hungary . It was renamed '''Lemko-Rusyn Republic''' (''Ruska Lemkivska'') later that year. After a transition period it was incorporated into Poland in 1920. In 1939 about 130,000-140,000 Lemkos were living in the Polish part of ''Lemkivshchyna''. Mass emigration from Lemko-land to the Western hemisphere began in the late 1800s, diminishing the cultural uniqueness of the homeland areas. Cultural Assimilation , most especially among the Slovaks to the south, has also diminished the number of Lemkos in their ancient mountainous homeland. In Poland, perhaps most of the Lemkos were removed by Forced Resettlement , first to the Soviet Union (about 90,000 persons) and later to Poland's newly-acquired western lands in the Wisla Action campaign of the late 1940s (about 35,000). A minority have since returned. Today in the Polish part of the traditional Lemko region, the Lemki number some 10,000-15,000. About 50,000 live in the western and northern parts of Poland. Amongst them, 5,863 people declared Lemko nationality during the census in 2002 . The word Lemko is known to all Poles. In 1946 the entire minority was deported to the north and west of the country in an Ethnic Cleansing operation. This was the communist government's solution to the struggle waged by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army , UPA, in south-eastern Poland. It was not until 1956 that some of them were allowed to return to the region bordering Slovakia. But many of those hoping to return found that their villages had been burnt down. Also, the Lemkos were deported to former German villages in areas Stalin had given to Poland. Many chose to stay because of the higher living standards in the former German villages. Many were afraid to reveal they were Lemkos until the fall of communism, and even beyond that, so they stayed. in Poland; and, to the Ruthenian Catholic Church (see also Slovak Catholic Church ) in Slovakia. A substantial minority belong to the Orthodox Church . The distinctive wooden architectural style of the Lemko churches is to place the highest Cupola of the church building at the entrance to the church, with the roof sloping downward toward the Sanctuary . THE SITUATION OF LEMKOS IN POLAND AFTER 1956 TILL TODAY Some 5 thousand Lemko families returned to their home regions in Eastern Poland in 1957 - 1958 . {Link without Title} While the 2002/2003 Polish census shows only 5,800, it is estimated that there live no more then 80-100,000 Lemkos in Poland today, 8-10,000 of them in , Nowy Sącz , and Gorlice . FAMOUS LEMKOS
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