Croatian Peruvian

Croatian Peruvians

Notable Croatian Peruvians Sofía Mulánovich Cesar Bielich-Pomareda Marin Bunić
Total population
106,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Callao, Lima, Arequipa
Languages
Spanish, Croatian
Religion
Roman Catholic

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Croatian-Peruvians are Peruvians of Croatian descent. Although a small group in the European minority of Peru, Croatian-Peruvians and their descendants have made valuable contributions to their new country.^{[citation needed]} Mostly settled in Peru's capital, Lima, Croatian-Peruvians have scattered throughout the vast metropolis, but are known to have established a strong community in the Miraflores District, where strong ties to the ethnic group still remain. Due to intermarriage, most Croatian-Peruvians are of mixed ancestry. Actual conversations in Croatian are common only within first generation immigrants. Although Croatian speech in Peru has been lost.

Most Croatian-Peruvians are Roman Catholic and either completely Croat or of mixed European origin.

History

The first Croatian immigrants are said to have moved to Peru shortly after independence in 1821, although the amount of immigrants was minimal, not even reaching two hundred individuals by the 1910s.

However, when World War I broke out, many Yugoslavs, particularly Croatians, had no option but to leave their country to avoid political turmoil and the violence about to take place with the Serbian campaign in WWI.

Once again, a heavy wave of Croatian immigration took place once World War II began. This time, however, an estimate of 152 Croatians are recorded to have arrived in Lima.^[2] Many settled in the populous Miraflores district and cultural assimilation was smooth due to similarities in religion and cooperation of the native residents. Immigrant bachelors often married the local women and settled in Lima. Few are known to have left Peru to go back to either Croatia or other countries.

Today 18,000 Peruvians are of Croatian origin and most are Peruvian-born; few of the actual immigrants still remain alive.^{[citation needed]}

Croatian-Peruvians today

Many Croatian-Peruvians had humble beginnings in Peru, but have progressed greatly from then. Many became renowned in Peru's already successful fishing industry and others were able to obtain steady jobs in other trades. Croatian cuisine had relative fame in Lima and several Croatian-Peruvians opened their own restaurants, which served mostly seafood. Palachinke is a well-known pancake restaurant in Lima of Croatian origin. It owns three establishments in the city.^{[citation needed]}

Notable Croatian Peruvians

• Antonio Pechiarovich - Textile Business
• Cesar Bielich-Pomareda (1871–1950) - Minister of the Navy of Peru
• Ismael Bielich-Flores
• Juan Bielovucic Cavalié - aviator
• Pedro Carrión Pavlich - Bishop of Puno
• Marino de Bona
• Juan Gargurevich - journalist
• Saby Kamalich - actress
• Sofía Mulánovich - surfer
• Jose Pavletich
• Magdalena Pavlich - scientist
• Zinka Saric Pardo - writer
• Raúl Ruidíaz Misitich - footballer
• Renzo Sheput - footballer
• Jaime Stiglich - ambassador
• Vanessa Terkes - actress
• Guillermo Tomasevich - footballer

Influence

Croatian-Peruvians are not a widely known ethnic group in Peru, nonetheless their contributions are noted in everyday life. Most popular among these is the sport of bocce, bochas in English and Spanish, a simple ball game known all over Europe and very popular in Croatia. Gatherings in the affluent Regatas Lima country club in the Limenian district of Chorrillos became common after bocha alleys were constructed there, and soon all over the city. Bochas is now a renowned sport for Croatians and non-Croatians alike all over Peru.

See also

• Croatia–Peru relations
• Croats of Chile
• Croats of Brazil
• Croats of Argentina

References

1. ^ Diaspora Croata
2. ^ familia croata en el Perú. Marko Burin

Links

• Asociación Croata