Abstrakt
Highlighting the important, but in research often neglected, experiential dimension of European traditions, this issue of Ethnologia Europaea contains a themed section edited by Cyril Isnart and Alessandro Testa, entitled Re-enchantment, Ritualization, Heritage-making: Processes Reconfiguring Tradition in Europe. It begins with an introduction by the guest editors outlining how these three concepts can open new vistas on research.
They are exemplified in four research articles: Testa describes three ethnographic cases of ritualization from different parts of Europe, Isnart contemplates the dynamics of cultural heritage and religion in southern Europe, Eva Löfgren studies the reconstruction of churches in a secular society such as Sweden, and Pedro Antunes takes part in nocturnal rituals, singing for the souls in Portugal. The special section is concluded with a forum on the "hot topic" of tradition.
In nine statements, prominent researchers from all over Europe reflect on how the perception and reframing of tradition specific to each of their intellectual cultures and professional networks are continuously challenged by their ethnographic experiences.