The photographs below were taken at cultural events and significant places here on the Monterey Peninsula. Featured are the Greek Festival, a historic walking tour of Monterey, Christmas in the Adobes, and the site of where the Point Alones Chinese Fishing Village used to be. I specifically chose to document these events and places because they are all culturally significant to the region and show how traditional culture has been incorporated into the local landscape. It is my belief that when we have a greater awareness and understanding of who we are- and the deep connections that we share, we are better informed and able to make decisions about our future together. These decisions are then ultimately guided by who we once were, who we are now, and who we would like to be- both as individual communities, and members of a bigger world.
It is my hope that by featuring these events and places, I have helped to give them the recognition that allows for deeper understanding and awareness of their importance within this community. I chose these opportunities because I am passionate about the history and cultural traditions which are perpetuated in these community examples, and I hope that by highlighting them I encourage people to understand the value of the individual contributions we all make to our communities.
Finally, I desire to encourage a greater level of passion in people to seek out and participate in unique cultural opportunities for themselves (and to become more involved in the organizations that help promote cultural heritage and education). Please scroll down for more information on the specific event or site and click on the individual photographs for an in-depth explanation of the image.
2012 Monterey Greek Festival- sponsored by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church of Salinas.
The Greek Festival is held annually in the Custom House
Plaza in Monterey (on Fisherman's Wharf). Featured at this festival is Greek
cuisine, live Greek music, dancing, and many artisan vendors selling pottery,
jewelry, hand-painted boots, and other unique items. I attended the 2012
festival on Saturday, September 1st with my husband and daughter. During our
visit, we tried traditional gyros, falafel, and Greek coffee. We listened to
local artists singing Greek songs, and watched people learning how to perform
traditional Greek dance steps near the stage.
I chose to attend and document the Monterey Greek Festival, because I heard from friends that it was one of the biggest events on the peninsula. I love Greek food and was really looking forward to not only learning more about the different ethnic groups in the community, but also more about Greek culture. Since the festival was heavily packed, it was difficult to talk to the vendors (as I was hoping to do), but I plan on documenting them and their crafts next year. I'd like to learn about whether they made their crafts personally, or imported them from somewhere else. I'd also like to learn about why they participate in the Greek Festival, and whether they feel the festival is an accurate representation of traditional (and contemporary) Greek culture.
The images below were taken as an attempt to document as many different aspects of the festival as possible. I tried to capture traditional (and modern) Greek food and drink options, as well as the different items for sale. There is also a photograph of singer who performed while we were there.
On the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church's website, there is information about both Greece civilization and the festival. Below is an excerpt:
Welcome to our festival which began 24 years ago. The Greek Festival is a tradition in Monterey County and most other parts of the United States where Greeks are gathered. Our food is prepared within the guidelines of the Mediterranean/Greek diet and is rich in good quality Greek olive oil and other genuine Greek products. Our wonderful ladies prepare this food following recipes and techniques used in Greece for hundreds of years and brought to America by Greek immigrants from all corners of Greece. Greece, the land of ancient gods and mythology, has always been famous for its cuisine.
Greek civilization goes back 5000 years. Greece is the land of Homer, Socrates, Plato, Thucydides, Hercules, Irodotos,
Pythagoras, Aristotle, Leonidas, Pericles, Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, the Sophists, and Alexander the Great. Greece is the land where poets and philosophers flourished. The roots of western civilization and democracy formed Greece and were shared throughout the world. The ancient statues of Athens are still marveled at by today's world. With the coming of the Christian era, the Apostles of Christ spread His teachings and were often martyred for their faith. During the Byzantine Era, spanning more than 1000 years, Greece acted as the defender of the West against barbarian hordes. Greece suffered 400 years of occupation by the Ottoman Turks, but despite this suffering, the Greeks succeeded in preserving their language, religion and traditions.
Greece is a country of boundless beauty, blessed with warm sunny days and seas of clean, inviting waters bathing its many islands: a paradise on earth for visitors from all over the world. With the scenic Monterey Bay serving as a backdrop, we hope you experience some of this beauty while attending our festival. We invite you to join our dances as our people would love to show you the dance steps and teach you a few words of Greek.
http://www.montereybaygreekfestival.com/forms/Welcome_2010.pdf#zoom=100
For information on the Greek Festival, please see the official website: http://www.montereybaygreekfestival.com/
I chose to attend and document the Monterey Greek Festival, because I heard from friends that it was one of the biggest events on the peninsula. I love Greek food and was really looking forward to not only learning more about the different ethnic groups in the community, but also more about Greek culture. Since the festival was heavily packed, it was difficult to talk to the vendors (as I was hoping to do), but I plan on documenting them and their crafts next year. I'd like to learn about whether they made their crafts personally, or imported them from somewhere else. I'd also like to learn about why they participate in the Greek Festival, and whether they feel the festival is an accurate representation of traditional (and contemporary) Greek culture.
The images below were taken as an attempt to document as many different aspects of the festival as possible. I tried to capture traditional (and modern) Greek food and drink options, as well as the different items for sale. There is also a photograph of singer who performed while we were there.
On the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church's website, there is information about both Greece civilization and the festival. Below is an excerpt:
Welcome to our festival which began 24 years ago. The Greek Festival is a tradition in Monterey County and most other parts of the United States where Greeks are gathered. Our food is prepared within the guidelines of the Mediterranean/Greek diet and is rich in good quality Greek olive oil and other genuine Greek products. Our wonderful ladies prepare this food following recipes and techniques used in Greece for hundreds of years and brought to America by Greek immigrants from all corners of Greece. Greece, the land of ancient gods and mythology, has always been famous for its cuisine.
Greek civilization goes back 5000 years. Greece is the land of Homer, Socrates, Plato, Thucydides, Hercules, Irodotos,
Pythagoras, Aristotle, Leonidas, Pericles, Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, the Sophists, and Alexander the Great. Greece is the land where poets and philosophers flourished. The roots of western civilization and democracy formed Greece and were shared throughout the world. The ancient statues of Athens are still marveled at by today's world. With the coming of the Christian era, the Apostles of Christ spread His teachings and were often martyred for their faith. During the Byzantine Era, spanning more than 1000 years, Greece acted as the defender of the West against barbarian hordes. Greece suffered 400 years of occupation by the Ottoman Turks, but despite this suffering, the Greeks succeeded in preserving their language, religion and traditions.
Greece is a country of boundless beauty, blessed with warm sunny days and seas of clean, inviting waters bathing its many islands: a paradise on earth for visitors from all over the world. With the scenic Monterey Bay serving as a backdrop, we hope you experience some of this beauty while attending our festival. We invite you to join our dances as our people would love to show you the dance steps and teach you a few words of Greek.
http://www.montereybaygreekfestival.com/forms/Welcome_2010.pdf#zoom=100
For information on the Greek Festival, please see the official website: http://www.montereybaygreekfestival.com/
Monterey Walking Tours
Monterey Walking Tours takes you away from the crowds on Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row to discover your own path of history. This tour covers historic Monterey from the days of the Spanish explorers to California statehood, and allows you to learn about different Monterey attractions such as the old Monterey adobes, and the buildings of Monterey State Historic Park. It also features in-depth history about the California legacy of the early residents of Old Monterey. This two hour excursion focuses on Monterey's exciting past, important events, and the intriguing people who lived in Historic Monterey or Steinbeck's Cannery Row.
The company is owned and operated by Mr. Thom Diggins, a long-time resident and well-respected historian of the Monterey area. I went on one of Mr. Diggins' walking tours with my family in September 2012 and had a wonderful time learning about the early history of the Monterey Peninsula. Mr. Diggins first took us to a mural that was just a few short blocks from where we met, and showed the history of the area in bright illustrations. He used the mural to give us an overview of the area, and explained how the illustrations coincided with the historic events and people (it was presented from left to right in accordance with the Native Americans being the first section on the left). After he gave us a brief overview of the history of the area, we proceeded to make our way up to Monterey's historic adobes.
We visited many of the city's adobes, including the Thomas Larkin House, Casa Soberanes, California's First Theatre, and the Old Whaling Station. He took us to Colton Hall, where the California Constitutional Convention was held and the constitution of California was drafted and signed into law in 1849. He also showed us the Lara-Soto adobe which was once the home of famous author John Steinbeck, as well as the buildings in the Custom House Plaza. Mr. Diggins is well-versed in the history of the area, and his passion and enthusiasm were evident in our tour. My family and I were lucky that we were his only customers that day, so we were able to talk to him in great detail about the different places he showed us, and he was able to answer all of our questions thoroughly. I would definitely recommend going on this walking tour, as it takes you away from the tourist hot spots and gives you great insight into the history and heritage of this area.
To contact or make reservations please call at: 831-521-4884 or email at: [email protected]
The company is owned and operated by Mr. Thom Diggins, a long-time resident and well-respected historian of the Monterey area. I went on one of Mr. Diggins' walking tours with my family in September 2012 and had a wonderful time learning about the early history of the Monterey Peninsula. Mr. Diggins first took us to a mural that was just a few short blocks from where we met, and showed the history of the area in bright illustrations. He used the mural to give us an overview of the area, and explained how the illustrations coincided with the historic events and people (it was presented from left to right in accordance with the Native Americans being the first section on the left). After he gave us a brief overview of the history of the area, we proceeded to make our way up to Monterey's historic adobes.
We visited many of the city's adobes, including the Thomas Larkin House, Casa Soberanes, California's First Theatre, and the Old Whaling Station. He took us to Colton Hall, where the California Constitutional Convention was held and the constitution of California was drafted and signed into law in 1849. He also showed us the Lara-Soto adobe which was once the home of famous author John Steinbeck, as well as the buildings in the Custom House Plaza. Mr. Diggins is well-versed in the history of the area, and his passion and enthusiasm were evident in our tour. My family and I were lucky that we were his only customers that day, so we were able to talk to him in great detail about the different places he showed us, and he was able to answer all of our questions thoroughly. I would definitely recommend going on this walking tour, as it takes you away from the tourist hot spots and gives you great insight into the history and heritage of this area.
To contact or make reservations please call at: 831-521-4884 or email at: [email protected]
Christmas in the Adobes
My family and I had the opportunity to attend the 2012 Christmas in the Adobes event in Monterey, which is presented by the California State Parks Association. It was a wonderful evening, filled with living history, as we toured Monterey's historic adobes (many of which are not open to the public regularly) and experienced what life may have been like for Monterey residents in the mid to late 1800's. We did not have the time to go to all of the buildings on the tour (we were only able to attend one night instead of both), but we did have the opportunity to see some great places and witness some unique historical reenactments. The buildings we chose to visit and document were the Custom House, the Joseph Boston Store, California's First Theatre, Casa Soberanes, and the Historic Monterey Hotel. Please click on the photographs below for further information, including an image description and the historic significance of the building.
Below is an excerpt from an article titled "Christmas in the Adobes: Luminarias light the way to Monterey's historic Adobes", which was written by By Kathryn McKenzie of Adventures Monterey Bay and published on 12/07/2011.
This marked the 27th year for Christmas in the Adobes, an event that gives new life to some very old traditions. The self-guided walking tour of some of Monterey's most beautiful historic structures give visitors the feeling of stepping back in time, with decorations and entertainment that are true to the mid-1800s, like the luminaria that light the way to each building. "It's like the old days when people would go house to house, visiting and caroling," said Michael Green, manager of Monterey State Historic Park, which includes significant houses and buildings throughout Old Monterey. That old-time community spirit is part of the attraction. It's also refreshing to enter a world where Christmas was a quieter, simpler time.
Most of the sites on the tour will have some kind of entertainment and refreshments, Green said, and at some places, visitors can get into the act if they want to - at the Custom House, for instance, they can take instruction in the fandango and take a turn at dancing, if they wish. Volunteers inthe garb of those times complete the picture.
EVERY ONE OF THE 23 historic buildings that takes part in downtown Monterey's Christmas in the Adobes celebrates the season in a slightly different way - and each one reflects a facet of the city's early history. At Stevenson House, where "Kidnapped" author Robert Louis Stevenson rented a room in in 1879, it's a Scottish holiday, complete with bagpipes, shortbread and tea; at Larkin House, home to Alta California's U.S. Consul, military wives in
period dress will greet visitors who come calling.inside the Custom House, the oldest government building in California, fandango dancers will elegantly twirl; and at Casa Soberanes, once the residence of a musically inclined family, a harpist will pluck strings during the two-night event.
Proceeds from the tour go to the Monterey State Historic Park Association which uses the funds to pay for children's educational programs at the park buildings. The event is the association's biggest fundraiser of the year. "It is a family event, and a great way to get into the holiday spirit," said Green.
http://www.montereybayadventures.com/play/ci_19491469
For more information about attending the Christmas in the Adobes event, please see the California State Parks website at:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26922
Below is an excerpt from an article titled "Christmas in the Adobes: Luminarias light the way to Monterey's historic Adobes", which was written by By Kathryn McKenzie of Adventures Monterey Bay and published on 12/07/2011.
This marked the 27th year for Christmas in the Adobes, an event that gives new life to some very old traditions. The self-guided walking tour of some of Monterey's most beautiful historic structures give visitors the feeling of stepping back in time, with decorations and entertainment that are true to the mid-1800s, like the luminaria that light the way to each building. "It's like the old days when people would go house to house, visiting and caroling," said Michael Green, manager of Monterey State Historic Park, which includes significant houses and buildings throughout Old Monterey. That old-time community spirit is part of the attraction. It's also refreshing to enter a world where Christmas was a quieter, simpler time.
Most of the sites on the tour will have some kind of entertainment and refreshments, Green said, and at some places, visitors can get into the act if they want to - at the Custom House, for instance, they can take instruction in the fandango and take a turn at dancing, if they wish. Volunteers inthe garb of those times complete the picture.
EVERY ONE OF THE 23 historic buildings that takes part in downtown Monterey's Christmas in the Adobes celebrates the season in a slightly different way - and each one reflects a facet of the city's early history. At Stevenson House, where "Kidnapped" author Robert Louis Stevenson rented a room in in 1879, it's a Scottish holiday, complete with bagpipes, shortbread and tea; at Larkin House, home to Alta California's U.S. Consul, military wives in
period dress will greet visitors who come calling.inside the Custom House, the oldest government building in California, fandango dancers will elegantly twirl; and at Casa Soberanes, once the residence of a musically inclined family, a harpist will pluck strings during the two-night event.
Proceeds from the tour go to the Monterey State Historic Park Association which uses the funds to pay for children's educational programs at the park buildings. The event is the association's biggest fundraiser of the year. "It is a family event, and a great way to get into the holiday spirit," said Green.
http://www.montereybayadventures.com/play/ci_19491469
For more information about attending the Christmas in the Adobes event, please see the California State Parks website at:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26922
Point Alones Chinese Fishing Village site
I visited the site where the Point Alones Chinese fishing village was located until it burned down in May of 1906. After researching the site, I wanted to see if I could find it and whether there was any trace of it or the people who lived there for so many years. At the site itself, I did not find any evidence (including any interpretive signs), but I was able to find some images (below) inside the old American Tin Cannery (which was built in 1927 as a sardine cannery). Today, the cannery and Hopkins Marine Station sit in the exact spot where the village once stood. There have been archaeological excavations at this site which have turned up many artifacts such as bottles, kitchenware, fishing gear, animal bones, shells, homemade dice, game pieces, rusty nails and coins. In an article published in 2010 by the San Francisco Gate, archaeologist Bryn Williams is quoted as saying "It's definitely one of the most significant Chinese settlements in California. These archaeological artifacts are examples of the huge contributions the Chinese American community has made to California history."
The following excerpt, taken from the San Francisco Gate details the fishing village:
Point Alones is believed to have been founded sometime in the 1860s to house Chinese immigrants who came to California during the Gold Rush. The inhabitants leased the land from a Monterey land baron named David Jacks, who was widely hated by the many ranchers he had foreclosed upon.
It was a time of racial tension, primarily because white prospectors resented having to compete with the Chinese for work. Chinese immigrants were often forced into jobs that were essentially slave labor. The widespread racism soon found its way into government. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, barring Chinese from immigrating into the United States.
The close-knit community at Point Alones offered a kind of protection from the discrimination. The villagers raised pigs, fished and harvested all kinds of sea urchins, but made most of their money selling abalone. When their white counterparts discovered abalone, the villagers switched to squid. They would go out at night with burning pitch embers in wire mesh baskets hung over the side of the boat to attract the squid, according to historians.
The squid was often packed in salt and shipped back to China as a clever way of getting around the exorbitantly high duties the Chinese government levied on salt, Williams said.
By 1899, the village was thriving, and Chinese Americans would come from all over to purchase goods, pray at the local shrine or celebrate holidays like Lunar New Year, according to historians and newspaper accounts. It also became a local curiosity. White tourists would gaze at the Chinese villagers and take pictures of the elaborate temple and cliffside dwellings on what, by then, was known as China Point.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Monterey-excavation-reveals-Chinese-fishing-3247099.php
In my research, I also found out that Monterey native Gerry Low-Sabado leads an annual remembrance walk which honors the legacy of Point Alones and the fishermen who lived there. For further information on this event, please see the following link: http://kazu.org/post/awakening-history-chinese-fishing-village
The following excerpt, taken from the San Francisco Gate details the fishing village:
Point Alones is believed to have been founded sometime in the 1860s to house Chinese immigrants who came to California during the Gold Rush. The inhabitants leased the land from a Monterey land baron named David Jacks, who was widely hated by the many ranchers he had foreclosed upon.
It was a time of racial tension, primarily because white prospectors resented having to compete with the Chinese for work. Chinese immigrants were often forced into jobs that were essentially slave labor. The widespread racism soon found its way into government. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, barring Chinese from immigrating into the United States.
The close-knit community at Point Alones offered a kind of protection from the discrimination. The villagers raised pigs, fished and harvested all kinds of sea urchins, but made most of their money selling abalone. When their white counterparts discovered abalone, the villagers switched to squid. They would go out at night with burning pitch embers in wire mesh baskets hung over the side of the boat to attract the squid, according to historians.
The squid was often packed in salt and shipped back to China as a clever way of getting around the exorbitantly high duties the Chinese government levied on salt, Williams said.
By 1899, the village was thriving, and Chinese Americans would come from all over to purchase goods, pray at the local shrine or celebrate holidays like Lunar New Year, according to historians and newspaper accounts. It also became a local curiosity. White tourists would gaze at the Chinese villagers and take pictures of the elaborate temple and cliffside dwellings on what, by then, was known as China Point.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Monterey-excavation-reveals-Chinese-fishing-3247099.php
In my research, I also found out that Monterey native Gerry Low-Sabado leads an annual remembrance walk which honors the legacy of Point Alones and the fishermen who lived there. For further information on this event, please see the following link: http://kazu.org/post/awakening-history-chinese-fishing-village