Jon Voulo is a rapidly rising star in the Pennsylvania German Heathen
Community. He speaks fluent German and has traveled throughout Europe
especially Austria and Germany. At a mere 20 years old he exhibits a
maturity twice his age. Watch what this kid can do...
First Question:
1. Heil Jon, Give us some info on your background and ancestry.
Heil Frank!
My ancestry…where to start. Well, my surname is Italian, of
the Napolitano extraction. My father’s ancestry isn’t quite clear, but
I do know that there is a large contingent of Suedtirolers on his side
(Austrian Italy) as well. I am of predominant German descent, along
with a Sweidsh Great-Grandfather on my mother’s side and some random
Irishman a few generations back. However, I was raised with a strong
German cultural influence and sense of pride, so I identify as a
German, ueber alles. Oh, and the Mayor thing…though the name escapes
me, I know that somewhere in the early 1800’s, one of my Grandfathers
was Mayor of Berlin.
2.Where did you learn German? How does the public
school system cater to a Deutsch education?
I have had a love for the German language for as long as I can
remember. However, I can clearly remember one of my junior high school
friends giving me a CD from a band called Rammstein, who are a German
Industrial Rock/Metal/Whatever band. I loved the guttural German used
in their songs, so I began doing my best to learn the lyrics and after
a while, actually looked at some translations. Love them or hate them,
Rammstein’s poetic lyrics and, for the most part, basic German grammar,
is a great place to start. My high school had some FANTASTIC German
teachers who certainly helped me along the way, but I took things
further. I immersed myself in German music and literature, dated a few
German exchange students, and…voila! The public school system in my
area had a strong German program. However, the Nazi guilt was
ever-present. In third level German, we spent a good month and a half
studying the holocaust and all the horrible films that came along with
it. We were not allowed to have a German Language Club, as that might
be viewed as “racist”. Though the linguistic end of things was
wonderfully taught, here’s the bottom line: we were to learn the
virtues of the modern, emasculated Germanic man and shun all that was
Folkish. As you can see, this systematic removal of ethnic pride simply
didn’t work on me, along with many of my classmates. In summary, there
are plenty of schools that teach German language quite well, but German
culture? That’s a completely different story.
3.As Heidevolksstamm's linguist [the emerging Folkish Heathen Tribe in PA]
and author of the High German used for the Faining ritual's text, what
are your views on the Deitsch dialect in Pa?
I find Pensilfaanisch Deitsch absolutely fascinating. Though I’m not
Deitsch, the ethno-cohesion of the Germans here in Pennsylvania is
quite impressive. No one else has really kept their language intact. As
far as the misconceptions of Deitsch being “bad English mixed with
worse German”, well, I completely disagree. Deitsch isn’t bad German,
it is Low German, closely related to the Bavarian and Swabian dialects.
The language has been influenced by English, especially in
pronunciation, more noticably among the "Fancy". One could compare
Deitsch to Icelandic, as they are both languages that, though based in
a parent language, have branched off as a result of relative isolation
from the parent language.
4. As a European traveler, how is Heathenry doing over there?
How is it similar or not to the Folkish Heathen
movement here?
Heathenry, as far as I can tell, is not quite as organized in Germany
as it is here in America. There is a definite Folkish tendency,
however. In the Fatherland, the government actively works against
German culture in favor of Islam and global monoculture, or the “cash
cult”, as I like to call it. Folkism is simply instinctual, and those
heathens who have seen through the veil of multiculturalism seem to
understand that. This is no different in Germany. However, because of
the anti-Folkish socialist regime, many must go to ridiculous lengths
to ensure the government that they aren’t “Nazis”. I have met many fine
heathens at concerts and such in Berlin, and they are all good Folk. I
firmly believe, however, that Folkish Heathenry is strongest here in
America.
5. As a participant at the recent "Folkish Winters Night" put on by the
Confederation of Folkish Heathens in Virginia, highlight your
experience there.
Folkish Winter Nights was an excellent experience. This is the kind of
thing we need to see more of: true blue regionalization at its finest.
Participating in each faining/blot was a great experience for all
involved. Though each ritual was wonderful, the Wolves of Vinland’s
mead–charging rite paired with the group galdr will always stick with
me. My magical practice has always been very solitary, so this was a
completely new experience for me and left me with quite a humble,
though inspired feeling. I am very excited to continue working with our
Irminfolk and Wolves of Vinland brothers. Hail the Confederation of
Folkish Heathens!
6.What are your views on the Roman influence on the early Germanic
tribes? How integral is the Roman culture to the Germanic people today?
And here’s the part where I’ll start catching shit…As we discussed,
Hunter, The Italian-German relationship is certainly a love-hate one.
From Hermann to the Holy Roman Empire to Hitler, there is a certain
level of both adoration and hatred between the two peoples. The Roman
influence on the early Germanic tribes was not remarkably significant,
in my opinion. Other than the borders imposed by the Empire and their
resulting squabbles, there is not much to be said as far as Roman
cultural influence goes. I could elaborate on this, but I would rather
touch on the modern. The Roman influence on the Prussians is what
really interests me. The German tribes, unlike their Scandinavian
cousins, have a well documented victory Goddess in Zisa, the wife of
Ziu (Tyr). She was highly revered by the continental Germanics, who
even after xtianity, continued to raise statues to her in Augsburg, her
city. The Prussians, centuries later, had basically forgotten Zisa’s
name, but her presence lingered with them. On many Prussian monuments,
Viktoria, the Roman Victory Goddess, appears as a shining beacon of
German triumph. The term “Sieg Heil!” was taken from a greeting to the
statue in which Prussian citizens would pass the statues and, in a
straight-armed Roman salute, would say the words “Sieg Heil,
Viktoria!”, or “Hail Victory, Viktoria!’ The Prussians followed the
example of their Roman cousins and conquered by the Victory Goddess.
Even before the Prussians, German art, music and architecture was
heavily influenced by not just Rome, but the Italian Renaissance as
well. This influence is much more heavily felt in Austria, Switzerland
and Bavaria, as these areas are traditionally Catholic, which ties them
to Rome much more than their Northern Compatriots.
7. How does our emerging Continental Germanic Heathenry differ from the Scandinavian
tradition?
It differs greatly. We have regional Gods and Goddesses who are not
present in the Norse mythos, for one. Zisa, Nerthus and Berchte are
continental-specific, just to name a few. Our ritual practice is
different, as well. In many ways, it is more rigid, but is this not a
wonderful representation of our German heritage? ;) Our magical
practices, as you know, are also quite different. Galstar/Zauberspruch
varies significantly from Norse Galdr. These differences are important
to those of us with a strong sense of German ethnicity because, though
the Scandinavian traditions are wonderful, they do not stick with us as
well because we simply are not Scandinavian (though I am 1/8th Swedish,
haha). Many non-Scandinavian Europeans have adopted this Nordic
pantheon as their own, which has done wonders for them spiritually, but
in my opinion, it hinders one of the most important parts of true
Folkism, which is getting in touch with the remaining true Folk
traditions that have survived and played a role in one’s upbringing.
Many get so hung up on this Norse stuff that they forget that their own
non-Norse Folk traditions still bleed through to the surface in
everything they do. However closely related each Indo-Aryan group may
be, there are many regional differences that still stick with us now,
well into the xtian era. I encourage everyone to get to know more about
their own regional Heathen traditions, as they are the truest ways to
connect with your own ancestral roots and thus, yourself.
8.How have our Deutsch Folkish views been received here on the East Coast by our
Universalist Brothers? Have they treated our views respectfully?
Brothers? If you say so. I don’t think they regard us as their brethren
at all. Actually, they probably like us less than they do the
Scandinavian Folkish groups. When it comes down to it, Scandinavian is
a lot more politically correct than German, as the Germans were, you
guessed it! NAZIS!!!! And we all know that Nazis aren’t cool. When it
comes down to it, Universalists are Christians minus Christ, plain and
simple. They can’t get over the fact that people are, in fact,
different and realizing that is bad enough, but an even more
regionalized, more ethno-specific form of Folkism? Well that’s just
terrible in their eyes. I have nothing more to say.
“Free men are not equal and equal men are not free.”
9.I know that you have a close relationship with Chris Loscar, Der
Heidevolksstamm's founder and leader, what influence has he had on you?
Chris Loscar is the greatest, plain and simple. His commitment and
abilities as a friend, leader and father never cease to inspire me. Not
to mention, Chris has been instrumental in the regionalization of
Folkish Heathenry and the formation of the Confederation of Folkish
Heathens.
10. As a Rune school student, any thoughts on the Pennsylvania German
Magical arena?
Though I just very recently joined the Galdragildi, I have been a
student of the runes on my own for roughly five years, now. I can
certainly see a correlation between Pennsylvania German Magic and the
Norse/Icelandic traditions. I personally love the way you have
incorporated the Aegisjhalmur in some of your Hex pieces. The two seem
to stem from the same Indo-European root, and tapping into these other
Aryan magical traditions is a wonderful way to further our own personal
practices. Though the German and Scandinavian magical traditions are
closely related, I feel it is important to cultivate an understanding
of each as separates. Thank you for this opportunity, Hunter. I would
like to thank Der Heidevolksstamm, the Irminfolk and the Wolves of
Vinland for serving as a constant source of friendship and inspiration
to me. Hail the Folk!
