Russkij Den' - Northeastern PA

Russkij Den' in northeastern PA, other than Lakewood Park, was held in various parks in Hazleton, McAdoo, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton. As in other places, they were typically divided on the basis of ethnonational identity and religious confession, but one could not always know just from the name which group was sponsoring the event.

The earliest such event in the region was probably Rusin Day held at Fernbrook Park, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, which continued for several years.

Carpatho-Rusyn Greek Catholics in the Hazleton area participated in the Lakewood Park Rusin Day in Schuylkill County, but also organized similar events closer to home.

1935

1935

1937

1938

1939

1941

1945

1950

1952

1953

1953

1954

Would anyone know what year the final Rusin Day was held in the Hazleton area?

Wilkes-Barre

The Rusyn Greek Catholics in the Wilkes-Barre area were fairly united in their  ethnonational identity, supported by the American Rusin Clubs found in most of the local parishes. The American Rusin Clubs were involved in putting on the annual Rusin Day celebrations.

1949

1951

News bulletin of the Swoyersville ARC (American Rusin Club) in the GCU Messenger.

"Russian Day" in the Scranton area: Orthodox? Greek Catholic? Both?

Among Carpatho-Rusyns in the Russian Orthodox parishes, the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton-area members organized their Russkij Den' at Rocky Glen Park in Moosic, near Scranton. These events evidently began in 1927.

1937

1938

1940

This 1941 article gives surprising, though probably inaccurate information, about Russian Orthodox clergy planning the next "Rusin Day" celebration...

1941

Ad for the 1942 Russkij Den' in the Russian Brotherhood Organization's newspaper Pravda/The Truth.

Followup reportage on the 1942 event in Pravda/The Truth.

1943

1944

Event planners for the 1965 Russian Day.
Was this the final one? We're not sure if it was or was not.

The Rusyn Greek Catholics of the Scranton area, like in most other areas, dubbed their day Rusin Day.

Announcement in a 1949 issue of the GCU Messenger

Report from the 1949 event, in the GCU Messenger

1951

Announcement in the Byzantine Catholic World newspaper of the 1960... Russian Day? We're not sure if this was an error or if the event was actually called Russian Day that year. Can anyone confirm if this was the case, or how long the event continued to be held?

A Ukrainian Day, too

A Wyoming/Mid-Valley Ukrainian Day took the form of a Ukrainian Orphans' Day, starting in 1930. The parishes and many of the individuals and parishes involved were of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage (especially those in Nanticoke/Hanover, Glen Lyon, Alden Station, and Olyphant), though of Ukrainian national orientation.

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