by Lisa Boghosian Papas
It wasn't just the shish kebab that made the St. Paul press after its first introduction to Minnesota at the Festival of Nations: the elaborate exhibit of Oriental rugs, the display of hand made lace, and the show of Armenian dancers awed the crowds as well.
Started in 1932 by the International Institute, an offspring of the YWCA ("Y") organization, the Festival of the Nations began as a way for Minnesotans to share their rich cultural backgrounds and histories with others in the boundaries of one common space. At the first event, held at the St. Paul "Y" auditorium, 18 nations were represented. More than 65 years later, 100 separate ethnic groups now participate in the festivities, drawing 100,000 spectators to the region each year.
Aside from folk dancing, singing and music, each nation is required to share an array of homemade foods as well as a display an exhibit representative of their culture. Over the years, visitors have enjoyed learning about the Dutch custom of handmade wooden shoes, the Finnish practice of saunas, and the Armenian tradition of shish kebab. The St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1949, reads, "Broiled American lamb, known as shish kebab was one of the favorite food items at the Festival of Nations. After being soaked in wine, the lamb is then broiled over glowing coals." The novelty of the dish, was clearly news for the Midwesterners, and was referenced frequently throughout the 1940s.
For the culturally diverse Minnesotans, primarily comprised of American Indians, Germans, Scandinavians, Northern Europeans, and recently Chicano/Latinos and Southeast Asians, the Festival has served to showcase Armenia as well as other nationalities against the landscape of the more populous ethnic groups. For the Armenian community in Minnesota, which has survived its identity for the past 100 years without so much as a church or institution to support it, the Festival has been the rope that has bound this small community together.
It is thanks to an Armenian immigrant, Zarouhi Demirjian Nakashian, that the Festival began and continues today. Arriving in the United States from Istanbul just after the turn of the 20th century, Zarouhi and her sister Satanig, came to New York, at the suggestion of their parents. Zarouhi, who had already gotten her bachelor's degree at Constantinople College in Turkey, received a full scholarship to get her master's degree in romance languages at Columbia University. Satanig began designing one-of-a-kind women's dresses for Bonwit Teller Department Store. Tragically, in 1915, Satanig contacted influenza and died. Zarouhi, unable to contact family overseas, was now alone in America, and her immediate responsibilities included putting her sister to rest.
For the next two years, she worked at Columbia University, and then went to the "Y" training school for secretaries. After a short time, the "Y" sent her on her first assignment - away to Duluth. Boarding the Great Northern Railway, she took the next train out of the city and arrived in Northern Minnesota in 1918. There, she helped immigrants find jobs in the lumber and mining industries, and located places for them to live.
But Zarouhi did not remain isolated in the North for long. In the Twin Cities, the news had already spread that there was a young, single, and "un-related" Armenian girl in Duluth. Arsene Nakashian, the son of Mariam Keljik Nakashian, Bedros Keljik's sister, was a successful Oriental rug merchant and was known as a dapper, enterprising and outgoing young man. After meeting Zarouhi on one of her trips to St. Paul, Arsene fell for her at first sight. Following her all the way back to New York where she went to help in the International "Y" projects, Arsene's pursuit ended when he and Zarouhi were wed at the International Institute in Manhattan in 1920.
Upon their arrival back to St. Paul, Arsene decided to sell art and antiques, in addition to Oriental rugs, at his store Nakashians, which is known as Nakashian-O'Neil Interiors today. Zarouhi began to volunteer her time at the "Y", where she became a board member of the International Institute of St. Paul. It was then that the Institute decided it would be a good idea for the people of Minnesota to showcase the foods, costumes and dances of their nations. As founding committee member of the very first Festival, Zarouhi was praised for her efforts, and Arsene for his winning Armenian exhibit design. After that, the committee vowed to repeat the Festival every four years. Until her death, Zarouhi, along with her family, was, if not a leader, an active presence at the event.
Eight years after the first Festival, the Minneapolis Tribune, profiled Zarouhi as their 36th most interesting Minnesotan. In the article, she is asked to describe the greatest barrier in building bridges amongst ethnic groups. In response, she says, "Getting outside the circle of one's own nationality, and becoming acquainted with women of this country who are educated approximately as we were and who have the same kind of family ideas and traditions, allowing for the difference in national customs." As the author of the piece notes at the end, clearly Zarouhi was "another thread to the magnificent tapestry which is America."
But for this immigrant woman who so readily adapted to American ways-- serving on the International Institute Board for 35 years, the Festival was not just a concept that she practiced once a year, it was a value system that was a part of her own home and heart. For her, the dream was showing her daughters, Patricia, who was nicknamed "Happy" after she was born because of her pleasant disposition, and Arsinne to love and respect America as well as to honor their Armenian roots. Arsene used to make it clear to the girls that "one could be a fine American and still be proud of one's fatherland and of its contribution to a new-world."
Observing her parent's commitment to their country and culture at home and through the Festival, Happy, never thought twice about taking part in the leadership of the Festival activities years later. "My mom set a real example for me," says Happy. "When she first came to Minnesota, I don't think others could relate to her because she was from Istanbul. However, she quietly made a difference in both the Armenian and American communities. She was a real community leader and was involved in many civic projects including serving as co-chair on the volunteer election committee to reelect Mayor George Vavoulis. My father was very active as well. Even today, people stop me and tell me how they knew my Mom and Dad from the Festival, and how much they respected them."
Having lit the Festival torch, Zarouhi Nakashian's flame still burns strong with each passing Festival. From the beginning, the event has been an occasion that has united the Minnesota Armenian community. It has been a place where turn-of-the-century railway and rug immigrants could come and gather in celebration of their culture. In more recent years, it has been a place where the old Armenian Minnesota community and the new Armenian Minnesota immigrants from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Armenia have gathered to get acquainted.
"Over 200 Armenians came to this year's event, along with over 80,000 visitors," says yearly participant, Mark Keljik. "Probably the highlight for the Armenians this year was winning the cultural booth award for the eighth year in a row. This year's theme was weddings and Lynn Gildensoph led the efforts for the Armenians. We had on display an antique wedding gown, service for traditional Armenian wedding ceremony coffee, and old wedding pictures. Of course, someone was there to answer all the questions as well."
As the most visible presentation of culture within the community, the Festival is a tribute to Minnesota's immigrant population-which has stayed relatively the same except for the past 20-years when a large Chicano-Latino community has developed, along with an estimated 30,000 Southeast Asian Hmongs. It is thanks to the foresight of Zarouhi Nakashian, that these populations continue to work together and learn about each other.
