Making Plum Jam in Slovakia


Making 'plum jam' is a tradition that takes place in Slovakia in the fall.  Friends gather around the fire and stir the boiling plums for most of the day.  The trick is NOT to stop stirring them, otherwise, all the hard work will be for naught as the plums will coagulate before they're ready.  I thought it was a lot of effort for very little reward until I realized the true purpose of the exercise was the opportunity for friends to get together and socialize.  From the pictures, you can see I did more of that than the stirring which was actually entirely done by the older gentleman!  I also found out the plums can be made into a 'nefarious' product other than jam which certainly makes the effort worthwhile if you know what I mean!

The first picture is a little grainy because it was taken the night before as we were shelling out the plums.  The last two pictures were the next day during the boiling process.  Hope you enjoy them!

Comments

  1. Looks like fun to me. Jam making in our house doesn't have the same appeal. I really like these shots.

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  2. It doesn't have the same appeal for me either normally. At that time, it was all about the socializing. Thanks for commenting on the post!

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  3. These villages pretty much look like Georgian ones.These are country people or visitors? Because they don't look like typical Georgians from the villages.:)Pictures are very beautiful and plum jam is also very popular in Georgia:)

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  4. Hi, Anonymous!:)
    I guess you could say they are visitors although they were very comfortable in the country setting. The woman on the far left is an elementary school teacher. Actually, she teaches at a 'Roma' school in Presov. The woman next to her is an ER doctor in a hospital. But, like me, they have country origins. Unfortunately, I never visited a true Georgian village but plan to live in one some day as I've told you many times before:)

    PS I never heard about plum jam in Georgia. I wonder why you never mentioned it before?

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  5. Kang, Jung Pyo / R.O.K. Lt.February 24, 2010 at 8:37 AM

    hi, Mccoy! It's been a while. I could know you are doing well thesedays from these pics. Are you in Slovakia now? or just visited there.
    Anyway, i realized the hidden meaning during the plum jam making process. I think you dind't much wors compared to the old gentlemen! :) show a reverence for old age, haha :) just kidding.
    i really envy you Mccoy, i'd like to go there someday before i kick the bucket. :) enjoy there
    see you my friend

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  6. Hi, LT Kang!

    It's good to hear from you. How is Korea these days? I lived in Slovakia in '06 through my job. So, these pictures are a little older but I'm just now putting them up.

    Yes, he did all the work and I had all the fun talking! I should definitely respect older people more, shouldn't I:)

    See you soon, Russ

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