UNION, NJ – The annual festival of the St. Demetrios community in the city of Union, New Jersey, is being held over the four-day period from September 10 to 13.
Greek-Americans and residents of the wider area are enjoying traditional foods and sweets in the church courtyard, having fun with Greek music, and shopping at the large outdoor market for souvenir items.
In statements to The National Herald, the presiding priest, Fr. to the visitors for their presence and support, as well as to the volunteers for their valuable contribution.
“Our festival is not simply a cultural gathering, but a living testimony to the unity of our parish. It promotes Hellenism in the wider New Jersey area and beyond, as it provides an opportunity for entertainment and for showcasing Greek traditions, customs and practices, cuisine, and hospitality.”
“Through the joint efforts and contributions of our volunteers, we manage to keep alive the values that were handed down to us and to pass them on to the new generation,” he added.
A group of volunteer grill cooks. (Photo: TNH/Michael Kakias)
The president of the parish council, Vassiliki (Betty) Spiropoulos welcomed the visitors and thanked the members of the Council for their supervision, the dozens of volunteers who worked for many weeks for the festival’s success, as well as the sponsors for their financial support.
“We are having a good time, enjoying ourselves, and at the same time raising money necessary for the operating expenses of our church,” she stressed.
The president of the Philoptochos Sisterhood, Irene Papakostas, stated that all 43 members help prepare the sweets, such as loukoumades and kourabiedes, cook food, serve, clean, and do whatever else is needed.
The director of the Greek school, Maria Michalarea, stated that the first day of school is Wednesday, September 23, with classes from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.
“Classes will be held every Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30, and afterward, for half-an-hour, we will have an optional oral program, ‘I Speak Greek,’ with the aim of helping the children develop their spoken language through games and artistic activities.
“We are also starting a ‘Mommy and Me’ program in which children from six months to three years old, accompanied by their parents, will have their first contact with Greek through drawing, painting, artistic activities, music, and dance. In this way, the foundations will be laid so that when they come to Greek school as students, they will already know some basic elements of the language.”
