September 1, 2006

Annual Assyrian Festival draws 2,000 to area in weekend

Shish kabobs nearly outdo dance steps

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Kabobs didn’t slow down the dancing at the 16th annual Assyrian Festival hosted by Saint Joseph Cathedral—Assyrian Church of the East—on Minnesota Avenue Aug. 19 and 20.

The Assyrian church’s youth ministry performed traditional group dance numbers, including the Shaykhani and Towlama.

More than 2,000 people dropped by for the celebration that honored one of the oldest and warmest cultures in world history, drawing many of Assyrian descent to San Jose from as far as Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Assyria itself was originally part of the world’s most ancient civilization, Mesopotamia. It now lies where Iraq is, while its people have settled all over the world, including the Silicon Valley, where a large population permanently resides, according to Stella Karamian, who helped coordinate the festival this year. Chicago, Australia, Los Angeles and Europe also house growing contingencies of Assyrians.

The Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Yosit Cathedral Parish of San Jose, as referred to by Karamian, co-hosted with the Mar Giwargis Parish of Ceres, from Sacramento.

“Assyrians are really very friendly people,” said Karamian. “They are happy people. We like to have guests in our house and treat them well. If somebody comes to our home, we do whatever we can to keep that person happy.”

At the festival in August, visitors were treated first to good food. The entrance, located beside the church, featured a long shaded alley where local restaurateurs and bakers were lined up ready to serve. “Feeding guests is most important when somebody comes to the house,” said Karamian. “They force you to eat.”

Shish kabobs were the most famous dish at the event, but pastries and deserts also tempted customers.

Additional specialties were Looleh kabobs—ground beef with spice, kabobbed on charcoal—Dolma—soft cabbage and also soft grape leaves—and ashe rbfhteh—a famed Assyrian soup.

Visitors chased the food with dancing and live music. The church’s youth ministry performed traditional group dance numbers, including the Shaykhani and Towlama. “Everybody takes their hands and kind of steps forward, three steps forward and then backward and then side to side,” said Karamian. “It’s just like Greek dance, but it’s socially different—similar, but a different step.”

Karamian commented that the Towlama is also similar, but faster still.

Many in the youth ministry were also outfitted with a traditional wardrobe. But no matter who was wearing what, everybody had a good time, according to Karamian. “The kids begin dancing one month or two before the festival,” she said. “Some of the mothers come and teach them how to dance. Dancing is part of our culture. Everybody likes to dance—the old people, the children. We are raised with that culture. If you go to our weddings, from the beginning until the end, it is just dance.”

While the festival was time to celebrate, members of the gathered congregations were careful not to forget what people in their homeland were enduring.

Much of the proceeds gained from the event and other events at the Assyrian Church of the East are contributed toward Iraqis still living in the war-torn country, according to Karamian. For example, she noted that the man responsible for skewing the kabobs at the event was a professional caterer who donated his time and resources toward the cause.

“We have a tradition every month, that one Sunday of the month, all of the donations go to help needy people in Iraq,” said Karamian. “We realize that the people of Iraq need help, so the church helps them with food, clothes and school supplies, as much as they can.”

Karamian and fellow organizers were pleased with the turnout, 16 years after the first episode. “Around 16 years ago, there was a ladies-only gathering and we said that you know, we have a lot of good food, let’s start [sharing it]. We called it a food festival. The main thing was food. Then we decided let’s have some music also. We brought some music—very basic.”