Location: all around Sweden, processions usually organized by cities, schools, universities etc. (but in general is Saint Lucy’s day celebrated to a certain extent by other European countries as well). Date: the 13th of December Common names: Luciatåg (Sweden), Lussinatt (Norway), Luciadag (Denmark and Finland), Luutsinapäev (Estonia), Saint Lucy’s day, Lucia Day (English speaking countries).Continue Reading
The newly founded festival of a Bear (in german Bärentag, founded in 1998 in Basel, Switzerland) is in general focused on solidarity and social integration and therefore consists of parade (namely the dancing of the Bear) that goes through the Lesser Basel district and some of its important parts (readContinue Reading
Location: Roztoky (near Prague), Czech Republic Date: Saturday before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Christian Lent period Description: Shrovetide in Roztoky consists primarily of the procession of masks that starts in the city and continues to find its peak on local hill called Holý vrch. This hummock servesContinue Reading
THE FEAST OF THE BEAR – A NEW RITUAL IN A TRADITIONAL CONTEXT Olga Cieslarová, Martin Pehal THE WILD MAN, THE GRIFFIN AND THE LION “Diryff-dyff-dyff” resounds from a distance. We are standing with the children on the bank of the Rhine River in Basel. We hear the loud boomsContinue Reading
Location: Kingdom of Swaziland, South Africa Date: late August/early September Description: This type of celebration (called by the Swazis) gathers all the maidens of the land to show their virtue, talent and beauty as well as pay tribute and show their allegiance to their rulers. It is a festival typicalContinue Reading
Location: KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa Date: late August/early September Description: This type of celebration (called Umkhosi woMhlanga in the Zulu language) gathers all the maidens of the land to show their virtue, talent and beauty as well as pay tribute and show their allegiance to their rulers. ItContinue Reading
THE FEAST OF THE BEAR – A NEW RITUAL IN A TRADITIONAL CONTEXT Olga Cieslarová, Martin Pehal The article presents a new ritual, the “Bärentag” (Feast of the Bear), founded 21 years ago in Basel. It came about in the context of the medieval, but still very popular,Continue Reading
– by Barry Stephenson Dating from the 4th century, Rome’s San Marcello al Corso houses a crucifix that began its famed career by surviving a devastating fire in May of 1519. Three years later, during the height of a plague, friars of the Servant of Mary, disregarding the prohibitions imposedContinue Reading
Ronald Grimes has been at the forefront of ritual studies research for more than forty years. His research explores the interface of ritual theory, critique, creativity, and practice. Along with running a ritual studies lab for many years, Ron has served as a consultant for theatre and liturgical groups, asContinue Reading
The Walk of Wisdom was founded in 2015, in the city of Nijmegen, consisting of a 136km route around the city. A new twist on the age-old practice of pilgrimage, the aims of the walk include reconnecting people to their bodies, inspiring sustainability practices, building networks around the globally sharedContinue Reading