NORKA
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    • Norka 1834
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      • Neu-Norka
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      • Brunnental
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      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
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      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
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Community > Entertainment

Entertainment

Although the lives of those living in Norka were filled with a great deal of work necessary to survive, there was always time for fun and entertainment. Many typical pastimes had been practiced since the Middle Ages or ancient times. Of course, no electronic (passive) entertainment existed, and paid entertainers were rare. The most significant difference between now and then was that people had to be actively engaged in entertaining themselves.

Below is a list of some things the people of Norka did to entertain themselves:

Sharing stories, gossip, and jokes with friends and family. This form of entertainment costs nothing and has been part of humankind since the days of hunters and gatherers.

Music and dance are ancient traditions and were part of life in Norka. Both religious and folk music were popular. People were not passive observers; many could sing, dance, and play musical instruments. Weddings were always a high time for celebration and merriment. 

There were many religious and secular holiday festivals throughout the year. Some of the festivals were market-oriented. People from other villages and ethnic groups came to town, bringing glimpses of a broader world outside the colony.

Eating and drinking are always high on the list of ways to amuse themselves. Various alcoholic beverages could be purchased or fermented at home.

Games cost little and provided hours of fun for the participants and spectators.

Reading was a pastime for those who had access to books. The primary book read by all was the Bible, but other books and publications were available as time passed. Those with a scholarly bent studied textbooks in preparation for their examinations.

People occasionally traveled to other German colonies, Russian villages, or Saratov to purchase supplies and conduct business. Some travel would necessitate crossing the wide Volga River by ship. These journeys were great adventures for the travelers and not without some real dangers from time to time.

Decorative arts and crafts were practiced by many people. These were not just for practical purposes but also for aesthetic pleasure. Embroidery, pottery, basketweaving, carpentry, leatherwork, and woodcarving were common skills, and the labor was often divided by sex.

Speaking of sex, this form of entertainment has always been popular and didn't cost anything. It had the bonus of producing more workers for the farm and household. We know from the Norka church records that many children were born "illegitimate" (conceived before marriage). While pre-marital sex was frowned upon, the punishment was generally not severe. 

Religion services and church-sponsored events were important social gatherings where family and friends met. The rituals were designed to please the eyes, ears, and spirit and created a strong sense of community.

Sources

Researched by Steve Schreiber.
Last updated November 26, 2023
Copyright © 2002-2025 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About
    • Reviews
    • Contact
  • People
    • Founders
    • Personal Histories
    • Notable Norkans
    • Stories
    • Photo Identification
    • Photo Gallery
  • Community
    • Village Life
    • Entertainment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate
    • Homesites
    • Geographical Description
    • Government
    • Social Structure
    • Health
    • Education
    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johann Baptist Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Baptism
      • Confirmation
      • Weddings
      • Communion
      • Prayers
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
      • Sonntagsblatt der Omaha Tribune
    • Related Links