Moravian Culture
Old Salem
Image:http://www.travelteamllc.com/NC%20SAMPLING.htm
Old Salem is a historical Moravian landmark in North Carolina. It is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Old Salem was originally named simply Salem. In the 1800’s Salem functioned as a living and working Moravian community. Salem became a Moravian settlement in 1772 when the majority of the Moravian congregation moved there from Bethabara (Stone, 2000). In 1856-57, Salem ceased to be a congregational town. It merged with Winston to become Winston-Salem in 1913 (Stone, 2000). Today, Salem, now known as Old Salem, is in a sense a living museum of Moravian culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. Old Salem is full of old historic buildings that are rich with Moravian history and culture. They have volunteers that dress up in traditional Moravian dress and display many of the craftsmen trades Moravian did during that time. Old Salem is also well known for its bakery, Winkler Bakery. In Winkler Bakery, guests can find traditional Moravian food such as Moravian cookie, lovefeast buns, and sugar cake. Within the town of Old Salem, there is also one the most well-known Moravian churches in North Carolina, the Salem Church, also known as the Home Moravian Church. The worship services in Salem had originally taken place in the Congregation House, but due to the growing number of the Moravian population they needed a larger place to hold services and worship. Thus, the building of Salem church began in 1797. The Salem Church was completed in 1800. The church still remains their today and is active part of the Moravian Church in Winston-Salem (Stone, 2000). Old Salem also has God’s Acre, which is a famous Moravian cemetery. “God’s Acre is the final resting place for the Moravian congregation. The name is derived from the belief that God’s chosen are “planted” in His ground, to remain there until His “day of harvest” (Stone, 2000).” This cemetery is reserved for members of the thirteen churches of the Salem Moravian congregation (Stone, 2000). Old Salem has become a treasured landmark of North Carolina and its rich culture tells story of Moravian history.
Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m139ggF3Hk
The Lovefeast
Image:("Lovefeast," Lovefeast)
“Lovefeasts originated in the first gathering of Christians after Pentecost. The early believers met and broke bread together, thereby signifying their
union and equality. These meals of the church family were associated with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which followed them. They were called agape, from the Greek word for love that is for the highest type of spiritual love (Crews&Starbuck, 2003) .”
"The lovefeasts are a widely practiced Moravian Church tradition. It is part of Moravians religious culture. The lovefeast is an event that is meant to bring together a congregation and used as a means to join together in fellowship and worship with one another. “The lovefeast is primarily a song service, opened with prayer. Often there is no address; the hymns in the ode, or order of service, furnish the subject matter for devotional thoughts. If many visitors are present, the presiding minister often says a few words, explaining the purpose of the service, just before the congregation partakes of the bun and coffee, or whatever is served. On special occasions an address may be added, giving opportunity to remind the congregation of the history of the anniversary or the deeper import of the day. While the congregation partakes, the choir sings an anthem. Children and members of any denomination may partake. There are many services during the year at which a lovefeast is appropriate, such as the festivals of the church year, the anniversary days of the Moravian Church, the anniversary day of a congregation, a missionary occasion, any day in fact on which there is a desire to stress the headship of the Lord and the oneness and fellowship of His followers (Crews & Starbuck, 2003).”
union and equality. These meals of the church family were associated with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which followed them. They were called agape, from the Greek word for love that is for the highest type of spiritual love (Crews&Starbuck, 2003) .”
"The lovefeasts are a widely practiced Moravian Church tradition. It is part of Moravians religious culture. The lovefeast is an event that is meant to bring together a congregation and used as a means to join together in fellowship and worship with one another. “The lovefeast is primarily a song service, opened with prayer. Often there is no address; the hymns in the ode, or order of service, furnish the subject matter for devotional thoughts. If many visitors are present, the presiding minister often says a few words, explaining the purpose of the service, just before the congregation partakes of the bun and coffee, or whatever is served. On special occasions an address may be added, giving opportunity to remind the congregation of the history of the anniversary or the deeper import of the day. While the congregation partakes, the choir sings an anthem. Children and members of any denomination may partake. There are many services during the year at which a lovefeast is appropriate, such as the festivals of the church year, the anniversary days of the Moravian Church, the anniversary day of a congregation, a missionary occasion, any day in fact on which there is a desire to stress the headship of the Lord and the oneness and fellowship of His followers (Crews & Starbuck, 2003).”
Moravian Music
Image: ("Moravian Music," Moravian Music)
Music plays a very big role in Moravian culture. Moravians have used music as a means of entertainment as well as way to express religious worship.“The early Moravian settlers in America enjoyed a rich musical culture, which has been preserved to a remarkable degree; their musical life thus represents a significant contribution to the American musical scene, though they had little appreciable influence upon it. The Moravian musical heritage is an important piece of musical and cultural history for several reasons: First, because of its craftsmanship, musicality, and sincere portrayal of spiritual values. As written for capable amateurs, it avoids virtuosic display, but it is far from simplistic or condescending. Second, this music represents the finest body of music written or performed in America during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. During the eighty years from about 1760 to 1840, American Moravians wrote hundreds of anthems, duets, solo sacred songs, and instrumental pieces, and collected hundreds of others — both printed and hand copied. Visitors to the Moravian communities were consistently high in their praise of Moravian musical activities. Third, the Moravians performed the best of European music, often prior to performances of the same works in larger American cities. The question of “firsts” is difficult to establish in any historical discipline, but there is no doubt that the Moravians were aficionados of the finest in contemporary music from Europe and America("Moravian music foundation:," )."
(Forsyth County Public Library Photo Collection, BAND CONCERT REQUEST)