Crossing the Borderlines: Guising, Masking and Ritual Animal Disguises in the European Tradition - Softcover

Pennick, Nigel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1861630352 ISBN 13: 9781861630353

Publisher: Capall Bann Publishing, 1998

Synopsis

A look at the rich cultural heritage of Europe as it lives and flourishes to-day in events with personation or guising, which involve the suppression or transformation of individuality. "an absolutely fascinating read, full of information and insight. I would highly recommend it" Silver Wheel "an absolutely fascinating read, full of information and insight. I would highly recommend it" Silver Wheel "a fascinating and readable tumble through a welter of popular traditions" Northern Earth A look at the rich cultural heritage of Europe as it lives and flourishes to-day in events with personation or guising, which involve the suppression or transformation of individuality. The ritual context of human activity expresses the symbolic and psychological function of the event taking place, creating a communion between spectators and performers. In this book, most of the customs are written in the present tense, for it is clear that they are not just things of the past which therefore are gone for ever. When we read an ancient poem, sing an old song, or play a drama that no-one has staged for a century, we are not reviving or re-enacting them, we are making them present. Traditions can only be said to have died out when the conditions that sustained them have passed away and there are none left who wish to perpetuate them for their own sakes. When customs and traditions are enacted in new places with new people, they are affirmations of continuity, being further instances of those customs and traditions

Edition details

• Publisher: Capall Bann Publishing
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1861630352
• ISBN 13: 9781861630353
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 260