article

Greek urban migrants and their rural patron saint

Ethnic studies1 (3) • Published In 1977 • Pages: 14-23

By: Kenna, Margaret E..

Abstract
The primary theme of this study is rural-urban migrant relations. Kenna notes that one of the problems faced by rural migrants in an urban setting is that of creating an identity or set of identities which are strategically crucial in various urban and rural contexts. In this paper the author discusses a particular example of the use of a relationship, based on Orthodox religious belief and characterized by acts of religious ritual, between the migrant and his place of origin. The example used here is the cult of the patron saint which serves as a symbolic resource uniting both residents and migrants of different and conflicting interests by offering possibilities for identification which both express and over-ride these interests. This document also notes that religious vows and prayers to saints particularly at a time of crisis may also function to reintroduce people to the cult and redefine them as migrants from rural origins (p. 21).
Subjects
Internal migration
Cultural identity and pride
Urban and rural life
Spirits and gods
Sacred objects and places
Prayers and sacrifices
culture
Greeks
HRAF PubDate
2003
Region
Europe
Sub Region
Southeastern Europe
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2002
Field Date
1966-1967, 1970s
Coverage Date
1966-1970s
Coverage Place
Island of Nisos (a pseudonym), Greece
Notes
M. Kenna
Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-23)
LCSH
Greece