Slovak Roots: remembering the past, looking into the future

Helping Slovaks qualify for Olympics in niche sport.

By: sme.sk

Jun 28 2024
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Slovak Roots: remembering the

You can read this exclusive content thanks to the FALATH & PARTNERS law firm, which assists American people with Slovak roots in obtaining Slovak citizenship and reconnecting them with the land of their ancestors.

Welcome Slovak rooters,

June is drawing to a close and with it comes the third edition of The Slovak Spectator's monthly newsletter, Slovak Roots, dedicated to the community of people with ties to Slovakia.

In this edition, we continue the exploration of eastern Slovakia. This time, our colleague Jozef Ryník visited the Slovak part of the famous wine region of Tokaj and discovered that it is a paradise for those who love both wine and cycling. We also got to talk with Slovak-American Gregory Tears whose dreams of helping Slovakia qualify for the Olympics in a niche sport.

If that were not enough, we visited Kasigarda - Museum of Emigration from Slovakia to North America, a place full of stories of those who ventured beyond the Atlantic Ocean into the New World.

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Dreaming big

There is no denying that some of the most well-known athletes are Slovaks, such as Peter Sagan and Petra Vlhová. But did you know that most sports Slovaks have gone to the Olympics in are rather niche? Of the Olympic sports Slovakia has taken part in, canoe slalom sits at the top when it comes to medals earned.

In 2028, lacrosse is going to be an Olympic sport. Surprise, surprise, there are Slovaks who love this sport, sometimes called the 'fastest game on two feet'.

It is Slovak-American Gregory Tears' dream that Slovakia will qualify for the event.

"For me, lacrosse opened a lot of doors in my life. It allowed me to go to Harvard, travel the world. So for me, it's an opportunity to give back and help the next generation have that opportunity," Tears told The Slovak Spectator. He knows players who have Slovak roots and now that they can apply for dual citizenship, they may also join the Slovak team.

Gregory Tears. (Source: Archive of G. T.)

Museum of emigration

As mentioned in an earlier instalment of the newsletter, it is estimated that before the First World War, some 650,000 Slovaks emigrated to America.

"One-third of the nation emigrated without any reflection in Slovak society," explains historian Martin Javor, giving the reasons for founding Kasigarda, the museum of emigration from Slovakia to North America. The goal is to preserve the cultural heritage of those who left in search of a better life.

The museum is located in the village of Pavlovce nad Uhom, specifically in the part called Ťahyňa, in eastern Slovakia, only a few kilometres from the border with Ukraine.

The museum's name, Kasigarda, is a broken English version of Castle Garden, the main immigration office gate in New York, through which every immigrant had to pass. Javor gave us a tour of his museum, find out more here.

Kasigarda, a museum of emigration from Slovakia to North America. (Source: Matúš Beňo)

Discover Tokaj

A unique wine region spreads across a part of eastern Slovakia. Tokaj is known for its sweet wines, made from grapes affected by noble rot.

Now, it is also becoming popular among cyclists. And if you happen to be both a wine and bike aficionado, you have found yourself a paradise. Local winemakers believe that more and better cycle paths could help the region even more, luring more people in.

If neither wine nor cycling is up your alley, there are still many sights to be seen in the Slovak part of Tokaj, such as a suspended rope bridge, canoe rental, camping in treetops, and more.

A lookout tower in the Tokaj wine region in south-eastern Slovakia. (Source: SITA)

A selection of feature stories published by The Slovak Spectator that we recommend reading:

A forgotten Slovak, Andrej Babjak, was among tens of thousands of soldiers who, as part of the Allied forces, landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, 80 years ago in an effort to change the course of the Second World War and defeat Nazi Germany.
Long overlooked by investors, the announcement by Swedish carmaker Volvo of plans to build a major production facility in eastern Slovakia has renewed investor interest in the region.
When the Titanic set off for its first, and sole, voyage in 1912, its luxurious interiors had flooring very similar to that of the tiles used in the legendary Salvator pharmacy in Bratislava. However, this was nothing special.
A Canadian journalist has noticed that many Slovak words for ugly have supernatural overtones, as if people might make the sign of the cross at you if you left the house without brushing your hair.
The Slovenský Kras mountain range in south-eastern Slovakia is not just one of the country’s most eye-catching locations, it is also home to an animal that lives nowhere else on the planet.
Very few people know that in an inconspicuous restaurant below Bratislava Castle works a chef who has cooked for the Japanese emperor himself.

Would you like to share your story with us? Did you enjoy the newsletter? I would love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: matus.beno@spectator.sk or spectator@spectator.sk.