Krashovani

The Kraschowaner ( kroat. Kraševani, also Karašovani, Krašovanje, Karaševci or Koroševci called; Cyrillic spelling Крашовани; engl Krashovani or Krashovans, .. Rum Caraşoveni, Cârşoveni, Cotcoreţi or Cocosi ) are a South Slavic ethnic group, which and in the area around Caraşova other nearby towns in the district Caras -Severin in Romania has established ( historical region of Banat ).

It is estimated the population of this ethnic group to about 5,000 people. In the Romanian census of 2002, 207 persons have their ethnicity reported as " Kraschowaner " (1992 there were 2,775 persons). The majority of the minority group identified itself as Croats.

The Kraschowaner form a majority in two municipalities of the Caras -Severin: in Caraşova and Lupac.

Language and religion

The language of Kraschowaner is an archaic dialect of South Slavic, which remained otherwise obtained only in the region of Eastern and Southern Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Timok Valley around the city Zaječar.

The Kraschowaner are connected partly Roman Catholic and Serbian Orthodox Christians and in a long history of solidarity with Serbia, which survives in part today in the context of joint Serbian kraschowanischen associations.