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The Lazarki Procession in Inyevo, Radoviš: Ritual and Tradition in North Macedonia
65-90Views:131Lazarus Day is an important springtime tradition among Orthodox Christians in the Balkans. In the Republic of North Macedonia, many villages mark the occasion with a ritual conducted by female performers, the lazarki. Traditionally, the lazarki visit each home in the village to bless family members by singing unique songs. This ethnographic work intends to explore and document the tradition in Inyevo, a lowland and upland community in the Municipality of Radovis. Compared to other villages in Macedonia, the lazarki in Inyevo perform two connected rituals conducted eight days before Palm Sunday. On a Saturday, the lazarki perform the willow picking and willow offering in the monasteries, while the traditional home visitations happen on a Sunday. In exploring and documenting the tradition, fieldwork was conducted between 27 and 28 April 2024. The fieldwork included interviews (i.e., with the performers, a local family, people in the village) and observation of the rituals performed by the lazarki. The Lazarki in Inyevo exemplifies a tradition evoking themes on gender, the contemporary role of women in rituals, and as a form of authentic expression of faith.
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Die Vertreibung als Zäsur im religiös-kulturellen Leben der ungarndeutschen Gemeinde Budaörs/Wudersch?
87-118Views:298Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Frage, inwieweit und warum sich die Vertreibung der deutschsprachigen bzw. -stämmigen Bevölkerung aus Ungarn, die 1946 in Budaörs/Wudersch begann, als historische Zäsur in der Gestaltung der dortigen Fronleichnamstraditionen durchsetzte. Wissenschaftliche Arbeiten, zumeist verfasst von Budaörser Ortshistorikern und Ortshistorikerinnen, behaupten, die Vertreibung hätte unmittelbar zur Änderung der Festgestaltung der vermeintlich 300 Jahre alten Budaörser Tradition des Blumenteppichlegens an Fronleichnam geführt. Beschreibungen des Festes in der heutigen Form beziehen sich auf die Vertreibung als die Zäsur, die zur Verkürzung des Prozessionsweges führte, welcher nun nur mehr um die Kirche herum führen durfte. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Vertreibung 1946 als einzig mögliche Zäsur in der Festgestaltung hinterfragt. Dies geschieht aufgrund der Auseinandersetzung mit dem Wesen und den Charakteristika von historischen Zäsuren und der Analyse der lokalen politischen und gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen in Budaörs in den Kriegsjahren. Um diese Entwicklungen auf lokaler Ebene in Budaörs nachzuvollziehen, wird in der Arbeit auf die Rolle von Kardinal József Mindszenty und der katholischen Kirche in Ungarn in den Jahren 1945–1949 eingegangen. Nach der theoretischen Auseinandersetzung mit Alben und ihrer identitätsstiftenden Funktion wird ein bisher zur Forschung nicht herangezogenes Quellenmaterial, ein Album im Erzbischöflichen Archiv in Esztergom/Gran, vorgestellt und analysiert. Das Kardinal Mindszenty 1948 anlässlich der von ihm durchgeführten Firmung in Budaörs zum Geschenk gemachte Album mit Fotos dieses Ereignisses und der lokalen Fronleichnamstradition zeugt davon, dass die Vertreibung nicht unmittelbar zur Veränderung des Prozessionsweges führte. Die Veränderungen in der Brauchgestaltung sind vielmehr als Folgen einer langjährigen Umwälzungs- und Anpassungsperiode an die politischen und sozialen Gegebenheiten zu verstehen, mitunter der sukzessiven Verfolgung der katholischen Kirche, die in der Festnahme von Mindszenty im Jahr 1948 mündete.
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Lore and the Process of Tradition: Locating the Place of Belief Narratives in Ka Phur Nongjri and Sohbar
89-102Views:277Since the earliest times, the villages of Nongjri and Sohbar, located in the Southern Khasi Hills of North-Eastern India, have had their own religious ceremonies, customs, ways of behaving and beliefs that they share in their practice and narration. Their beliefs in certain village deities are linked with the well-being of the entire village, and are said to have existed from the time these villages were established. In the beliefs of the inhabitants of Nongjri and the village of Sohbar, the deities, manifest themselves in various performances and folksongs, and therefore, have become part of the performance itself. Deities, often in the form of human beings, engage in conversation with the villagers. Folklore also tells us that during festivities the approval of the celebrations by village deities becomes the key aspect to foretell the particular nature of the coming year.
The lore gathered from the places considered for this study would provide us with a new perspective on belief narratives existing in the Khasi community, while continually locating the position of lore and various processes of tradition in the socio-cultural and religious milieu of both Nongjri and Sohbar. The narratives explored in this paper will also provide – in the Khasi cultural context – the essence of War-Khasi beliefs and rituals that have remained largely undocumented.
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The Definition of the Museum at the Intersection of Tradition and the Digital World
103-120Views:48This study explores the evolving definition and role of museums in the digital age, focusing on the intersection of tradition and technological innovation. It illustrates the challenges of reaching a universally accepted concept by highlighting the historical development of the International Council of Museums’ (ICOM) definitions. The paper emphasizes that museums have always played a central role in preserving cultural heritage and facilitating education, but their tasks and methods have changed significantly over time. The 21st century has brought new expectations, including digital accessibility, audience engagement, and lifelong learning. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation, prompting museums to expand their online presence and educational offerings. The research discusses how virtual exhibitions, digital databases, and interactive technologies can enhance the relevance and outreach of museums. It also outlines the importance of international and national strategies in supporting digitisation efforts and cultural inclusion. Today, museums must adapt to societal needs while maintaining their core functions of preservation, education, and authenticity. The paper concludes that redefining museums requires balancing traditional knowledge mediation with modern, interactive approaches. Ultimately, museums are cultural hubs whose sustainability depends on their ability to innovate and connect with diverse audiences.
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Ancia Zarichanska in der Volkskunde Transkarpatiens: zur Frage kultureller Parallelen
7-28Views:66Die vorliegende Studie widmet sich der Analyse der historischen Figur von Ancia Zarichanska (Anna Poidyn), einer spirituellen Vermittlerin und charismatischen Heilerin aus dem transkarpatischen Dorf Zarichchia. Basierend auf umfangreichen Feldforschungen (2018–2019) und qualitativen Interviews mit den lokalen Informanten beleuchtet der Artikel die narrative Konstruktion dieser Frau im lokalen Gedächtnis, ihre magischen Fähigkeiten, rituellen Praktiken und asketische Lebensweise. Dabei wird ihr außergewöhnliches Verhalten – darunter Rückzug in selbstgewählte Isolation, Visionen, Fasten und soziale Selektivität – als Ausdruck religiöser Askese, devianter Frömmigkeit und spiritueller Autorität interpretiert.
Zentrale Elemente wie Nahtoderfahrung, Wiedergeburtsmotiv oder heilende Hellsicht werden in einen komparativen Kontext mit europäischen Volksheilerinnen, Seherfiguren sowie schamanischen Initiationen gestellt. Der Fall Zarichanska zeigt eindrücklich, wie sich spirituelle Legitimität außerhalb institutioneller Religion entfaltet. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt auf der Analyse der kulturellen Logik hinter der Zuschreibung spiritueller Autorität, der Entstehung von Ritualen wie dem „Hercna-Mittwoch“ sowie der Pflege und kultischen Aufwertung ihres Grabes, das als Ort lokaler Verehrung gilt.
Die Studie stellt einen Beitrag zur Ethnologie des Volksglaubens dar und zeigt, wie kollektives Gedächtnis, orale Tradition, dämonologische Erzählmuster und religiös-magische Praktiken ineinandergreifen und zur Entstehung lokaler „Volksheiligen“ beitragen. Die Figur Zarichanskas wird exemplarisch als Ausdruck transkultureller Muster nicht-institutioneller Spiritualität verstanden, die in Zeiten sozialer Umbrüche eine identitätsstiftende Funktion übernimmt.
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Memory and Enculturation
253-274Views:254It may be safely stated at present that the triad of past, tradition and memory has accelerated at an incredible pace. Memory seems to keep the events of the past alive for ever shorter periods of time. Rites, memories and remembrance are now handed down as written sources in the form of textbooks. How does the narrative of the teaching aids that have emerged in the 21st century then evolve and what are/have been their achievements in the construction of national identity? How do hon- és népismeret [Our homeland and its people] textbooks function as tools for building a national community? The subject hon- és népismeret taught in grade schools examines and discusses national culture and the processes of cultural reconstruction in a rather specific cross-section. Beyond exploring the interdependence and interlocking of the context and practice of ‘knowledge creation’/‘knowledge transmission’ in primary educational institutions, this paper aims to explore some salient observations on its generational relationship to memory. The importance of this subject and textbook is/has been undeniable, both as a tool for national and social community-building on the one hand and as a tangible archive of the process of heritage transmission/patrimonization on the other hand.
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The Concept of Dissimilation in the Study of Inter-ethnic Marriages within Homogeneous Meskhetian Turkish, Azerbaijani Marriages in Turkestan
95-114Views:249While analyzing the preservation of cultural heritage is more straightforward in homogenous households, inter-ethnic marriages present a captivating lens through which to examine cultural integration, social identity, and the preservation of tradition within diverse societies. This study explores the dynamics of inter-ethnic and homogeneous marriages among Meskhetian Turks and Azerbaijanis in Kazakhstan, applying the theoretical framework of dissimilation theory. By drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2024 which involved 45 interviews from two research villages, Turki Poselkasy and Kentau, located in the Turkestan province in the southern part of Kazakhstan, the research investigates the historical context and contemporary realities faced by these communities. In doing so, it highlights differences in culture, language, and social norms that can influence the formation of both mixed and homogeneous marriages among minority groups in the region. The theoretical background of the study is grounded in dissimilation theory, which posits that individuals in inter-ethnic marriages tend to distance themselves from their own ethnic groups to establish new identities within the context of their relationships. Through interviews and surveys conducted across diverse settlements, the study explores social identities and groups as well as concepts of cultural and social differences including gender dynamics, to uncover the intricate mechanisms of dissimilation.
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Post-UNESCO Effect: Chhau’s journey from Cultural Sentiment to Commercialization
69-88Views:302Chhau, a traditional masked dance form of West Bengal has been enlisted as ‘UNESCO- Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 2010’. In 2015, UNESCO along with the MSME of Government of West Bengal developed a ‘Rural Craft Hub’ in Chorida village of Purulia district centring Chhau. Consequently, tourism in the area got international and national patronage. This entire phenomenon encouraged the commercialization of the traditional dance and craft form associated with Chhau as a result of heritagization. Unfortunately, the implication of the heritagization happened in a flawed fashion which eventually led to folklorization and institutionalization while compromising their contextual significance. The paper explores how heritagization ensures the sustainability of intangible tradition like Chhau while leading to folklorization and institutionalization of performance and craft. The paper also documents the history and ritualistic significance of Chhau to draw a lucid comparison between the traditional form and the form which is the result of folklorization. The paper establishes that the Heritagization- Folklorization- Institutionalisation are intertwined with each other in the context of Chhau. From the interviews of the tourists and locals associated with Chhau, it is evident that the organization concerned with policy making should keep it in mind that an enormous distortion of craft and performance comes along when the target buyers in the market are alien to the traditional context. In such a scenario, the contextual significance of a craft form can be kept intact if the targeted buyers can be made aware of the contextual and functional relevance of the folkloric element that they are consuming in its modernized version.
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english
205-216Views:236This paper work is a very brief presentation that brings the reader into the front of the most important open-air museums from Romania and tries to emphasize the value of their identity. This work is, in fact, a presentation of an extensive doctoral program, after which we will publish a book, and we hope that we will be able to develop certain topics right in the pages of the journal Ethnographica et Folkloristica Carpathica. The quick development of museums has generated a veritable Romanian school of museography, recognized both nationally and internationally. The source of this development is represented by the speech of museum; that is how the museum manages to revaluate its available potential and to get imposed in areas of interest from most various: scientific, educational, cultural, touristic, ensuring the representation of as many ethnographical areas as possible. Although the concept of ethnographical museum allows multiple approaches and definitions, this essay highlights the role of the identity of museums and their way of representing the traditional village, given the dynamics and the abandonment of traditions.
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Posthumous Culture of Montenegrins on a Timeline between Past and Present : The Pattern of Behavior
33-53Views:263Montenegro is a country with a valuable and long tradition of everything related to life, especially death. Posthumous culture is remarkably detailed and significant for the people, most importantly in the earlier period when it represented the only foundation that held society together in difficult historical moments. This type of partially morbid way of self-expression of people has its roots in the deep and troubled past, often difficult and cruel to the inhabitants of Montenegro. The attention was pointed at the many traditional aspects, unwritten rules, and customs different from place to place, but in general, preserving the same function. From the type of clothes for the deceased, the eulogies uttered at the gravesite, to the male and female roles at the commemorations – the article handles the typical funeral processes. The aim of this paper is to acquaint the reader with the manner of behaviour of the Montenegrins towards the phenomenon that occurs when a person in the community dies and how a typical family handles the situation. For the sake of the research, interviews with two subjects providing their own perspectives were conducted. The significance of the study is personified by the sometimes contradictory stances of the people on death and the inevitable merging of secular and religious life.
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Der Sattel: Unser östliches Kulturerbe
149-193Views:264Der Beitrag fasst die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse über den Sattel, das östliche Erbe der ungarischen Kultur, basierend auf den Ergebnissen von Forschung und einer Ausstellung zusammen.Die Pferdezucht hatte eine wichtige Rolle im Leben der sich im Karpatenbecken angesiedelten Ungarn. Die Bedeutung des Reitens ist in Ungarn bis zur Hälfte des XX. Jahrhunderts zu beobachten. Die Gegenstände – unter ihnen die verschiedenen Sättel - die mit der reitenden Lebensweise und Kultur zusammenhängen, waren gleichermaßen unter den Andenken der höheren Gesellschaftsklassen und der volkstümlichen Bildung zu finden.So wie fast jeder feste Bestandteil unserer gegenständlichen Kultur, so durchlief auch der Sattel viele verschiedene Stadien, Typen und Formen, je nachdem, wer ihn zu welchem Zweck oder Anlass bestieg. Mit den Jahrhunderten wandelten sich die Lebenswelten und –bedingungen, und parallel dazu entwickelten sich auch unsere allseits bekannten Gegenstände. Der Sattel stellt hier keine Ausnahme dar, obwohl eingeräumt werden muss, dass er zu jenen Kulturgütern gehört, die schon sehr früh ihre optimale funktionelle Form und Struktur erhielten, sodass er im Laufe der Zeit kaum geändert werden musste.Die von den Ungarn benützten Sättel entsprachen hervorragend den verschiedenen Anforderungen der Reitkultur, wie Fernritte, Ritterkämpfe usw. Eine der besten Eigenschaften der hierzulande bekannten Holzsättel ist, dass sie das Pferd schonen. Die Sättel können allgemein in zwei Grundarten eingeteilt werden, je nach struktureller Eigenart. In der Umgangssprache werden diese Kategorien östlicher bzw. westlicher Typ genannt. Aber rein fachlich gesprochen, wäre es aufgrund des untersuchten Materials eher angebracht, grundsätzlich zwischen den beiden Grundtypen Zwiesel-Flügel-Sättel und Gabel-Seitenbrett-Strukturen zu unterscheiden. Wichtigstes Merkmal des ungarischen Sattels ist, dass er ein ausgeprägter Osttyp ist.Der Sattel von Tiszafüred war eine distinkte und berühmte Variante des ungarischen Sattels. Nach dem Vorbild der ungarischen Husaren verbreitete sich die leichte Kavallerie in ganz Europa, und mit ihr wurde über Jahrhunderte hinweg der ungarische Sattel verbreitet, als unabdingbarer Ausrüstungsgegenstand.Heutzutage kann beobachtet werden, dass das Interesse an der Geschichte und den Traditionen der Reitkultur wieder im Steigen begriffen ist.
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Review on the Macedonian Wedding Singing
29-46Views:39The wedding as a rite of passage in Macedonia is a living tradition that preserves numerous and various evidence either on the social relations of the traditional community or the changes of this complex family-customs and ritual cycle. The characteristic of this complex is that it abounds with many ritual-magical actions, the basis of which is the apotropaic character.
The most significant signs, according to which it is possible to determine the boundaries of the local singing style, include: the constancy of the traditional wedding scenario, the commonality of the wedding repertoire and the types of musical-poetic structures.
Remains of the former characteristics of social life are deposited in the entire wedding complex: the former rights and duties of the woman and her position in the village community, as well as the old beliefs of magical and religious character.
The main characters in the wedding ceremony, apart from the bride and the groom, are: the father-in-law, the mother-in-law, the best man, the groomsman, the bride's brother, the brother-in-law and other participants, who are called wedding guests or in-laws. For them, during the entire wedding ritual, songs are sung, related to the entire ritual process and have a precisely determined ritual place and performance time. Their performance is related to four time-space segments of the wedding.
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Legends of a Transylvanian Shrine to the Virgin Mary
43-68Views:185My paper presents a legend tradition related to a well-known Hungarian (Transylvanian) place of pilgrimage. Csíksomlyó (Miercurea–Ciuc/Sumuleu) – currently part of Romania ‒ has become a significant place of pilgrimage in the 20th century, similarly to Austria’s Mariazell, Spain’s Santiago de Compostela, the Orthodox Church’s Athos, or the main international shrines to the Virgin Mary (Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje). Around this famous pilgrimage place known from the 15th century a thematically rich legend circle has developed over the centuries, typical of Hungarian folklore, which abounds in historical and narrative traditions. At the centre of the group of legends stands the statue of the Virgin Mary, of gothic origin, the miraculous reputation of which is complemented by several historical legend themes (foundational traditions, wars, heroes and saints, crime and punishment and other legend motifs inspired by the sacred place). I highlight the most important historical perspectives, the chronological characteristics, the geographical distribution and, above all, the typological diversity of these legends. The legend circle of the shrine of Csíksomlyó in Romania is the totality of the related narrative traditions, that is to say, both the hundred-year-old miracle stories found in written form in different historical sources, and the recent folklore texts collected from oral tradition. Although the time and the circumstances of the records differ significantly, the aim of the narration and the topic of the legends are the same. The legends about the shrine – separated into the given thematic groups – are an organic part of the Catalogue of Hungarian Historical Legends.
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Hannā Diyāb’s “A Sultan of Samarcand”, an Eleventh-Century Old Georgian St. George Legend, and the Construction of an Early Modern Fairy Tale
7-22Views:283Of the sixteen stories Hannā Diyāb told Antoine Galland to help the elderly scholar complete his 12-volume Mille et Une Nuits (1704–1717) six were omitted. This article examines one of the six discarded tales, “A Sultan of Samarcand”. Rediscovered by Hermann Zotenberg in the late 1880s, translated soon thereafter into English by Richard Burton, it was contextualized historically as a product of Eastern Christian narrative tradition by Joseph Szövérffy in 1956 and categorized typologically by him within the Aarne–Thompson tale-type index, as it then existed. Kevin Tuite’s recent research and translation of an eleventh-century Georgian religious legend supports my hypothesis that the Christian St. George legend supplied the story’s core episode. The role of reference works is introduced inter alia to illuminate their role within knowledge creation in general and in the discontinuities of “A Sultan of Samarcand” research in particular.
