Croatian-Peruvians

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Croatian Peruvians


caption = Notable Croatian Peruvians Sofía Mulánovich
Cesar Bielich-Pomareda
Marino de Bona
poptime = 160,000
popplace = Callao, Lima, Arequipa
langs = Spanish, Croatian
rels = Roman Catholic/Episcopalian
related =

Croatian-Peruvians are Peruvians of Croatian descent. Although a small group in the European minority of Peru, Croatian-Peruvians and their descendants have made valuable contributions to their new country. Mostly settled in Peru's capital, Lima, Croatian-Peruvians have scattered throughout the vast metropolis, but are known to have established a strong community in the Miraflores district, where strong ties to the ethnic group still remain. Due to intermarriage, most Croatian-Peruvians are of mixed ancestry. Actual conversations in Croatian are common only within first generation immigrants. Although Croatian speech in Peru has been lost, said Europeans have brought heavy influence to this country.

Most Croatian-Peruvians are Roman Catholic and either completely Croat or of mixed European or mestizo ancestry.

History

The first Croatian immigrants are said to have moved to Peru shortly after independence in 1821, although the amount of immigrants was minimal, not even reaching two hundred individuals by the 1910's.

However, when World War I broke out, many Yugoslavs, particularily Croatians, had no option but to leave their country to avoid political turmoil and the violence about to take place with the Serbian campaign in WWI.

Once again, a heavy wave of Croatian immigration took place once World War II began. This time, however, an estimate of 2,300 Croatians are recorded to have arrived in Lima. Many settled in the populous Miraflores district and cultural assimilation was smooth due to similarities in religion and cooperation of the native residents. Immigrant bachelors often married the local women and settled in Lima. Few are known to have left Peru to go back to either Croatia or other countries.

Today a little less than 3,000 Peruvians are first generation Croatians and most are Peruvian-born; few of the actual immigrants still remain alive.

List of croatian surnames in the countrywww.geocities.com/Athens/8887/mil1.html - 278kwww.geocities.com/Athens/8887/mil2.html - 393k

Croatian-Peruvians Today

Many Croatian-Peruvians had humble beginnings in Peru, but have progressed greatly from then. Many became renown in Peru's already successful fishing industry and others were able to obtain steady jobs in other trades. Croatian cuisine had relative fame in Lima and several Croatian-Peruvians opened their own restaurants, which served mostly seafood. Alfresco's and Punta Sal are examples of widely known restaurants in Peru founded by Croatian-Peruvians. Peruvian author Juan José Aiscorbe is of Croatian descent; however, few Croatian-Peruvians are known in Peru's literary or political circles.

Sofía Mulanovich, a Croatian-Peruvian surfer of huge international fame, is not only a popular figure, but has even been named the [http://www.surfersvillage.com/news.asp?Id_news=17512&Region=-+International+News+- #1 Female Action Sports Athlete] by ESPN and won the World Title at the ASP World Tour in [http://www.surfingthemag.com/news/surfing-pulse/sofia_012005/index.html 2004] , making her the female surfing World Champion.There are also Pedro Carrión Pavlich (Bishop of Puno), Magdalena Pavlich (a scientist), and Cesar Bielich-Pomareda (1871-1950) - Minister of the Navy of Peru.

Famous Peruvian writer Zinka Saric Pardo is of Croat origin, whose children literature has beaten all records in Latinoamerican market.

Influence

Croatian-Peruvians are not a widely known ethnic group in Peru, nonetheless their contributions are noted in everyday life. Most popular among these is the sport of bocce, "bochas" in English and Spanish, a simple ball game known all over Europe and very popular in Croatia. Gatherings in the affluent "Regatas Lima" country club in the Limenian district of Chorrillos became common after "bocha" alleys were constructed there, and soon all over the city. "Bochas" is now a renown sport for Croatians and non-Croatians alike all over Peru.

Croatian cuisine integrated easily with the coastal sea food that is very common in Lima. In Dubrovnik, where many Croatian-Peruvians hold their origins, sea food is the most popular of meals. Immigrants brought their traditions to the new country and the creation of new foods was inevitable. "Trucha a la yugoslava", roughly translated from Spanish to "Yugoslavian trout", is a well-known platter served in even the most upscale sea food restaurants of Lima and other coastal cities in Peru. It is a perfect example a food with mixed origins, since trout is not found in Mediterranean waters, but overwhelming in Peruvian rivers. However, it is cooked in the Croatian manner, with tomato juices and vinegar.