<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>In this case study<sup>*</sup> I offer an insight into the activity of an association for local traditions in a Hungarian village. In addition, I provide some general analytical frames for the examination of such tradition-based locality projects. The field of the observation is Kóny, a village in north-west Hungary. Its peasant traditions – especially the famous male dance, Kóny <italic>verbunk</italic> – were re-contextualised from time to time in the 20th century. The latest, recent, wave of re-construction concentrates on the systematic (re-)valorisation of locality by highlighting its former peasant traditions and the vernacularisation of the concept of heritage. While the organising work means a new, shared everyday practice for the association’s members, performing the traditions in the public space offers the villagers an occasion to reinforce local identity and identify with the locality.</p>
</abstract>

In this case study* I offer an insight into the activity of an association for local traditions in a Hungarian village. In addition, I provide some general analytical frames for the examination of such tradition-based locality projects. The field of the observation is Kóny, a village in north-west Hungary. Its peasant traditions – especially the famous male dance, Kóny verbunk – were re-contextualised from time to time in the 20th century. The latest, recent, wave of re-construction concentrates on the systematic (re-)valorisation of locality by highlighting its former peasant traditions and the vernacularisation of the concept of heritage. While the organising work means a new, shared everyday practice for the association’s members, performing the traditions in the public space offers the villagers an occasion to reinforce local identity and identify with the locality.

Towards the Analysis of Tradition-based Projects of Locality: A Case Study from Rural Hungary

Institute of Ethnography, Eötvös Loránd University

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

In this case study* I offer an insight into the activity of an association for local traditions in a Hungarian village. In addition, I provide some general...

Towards the Analysis of Tradition-based Projects of Locality: A Case Study from Rural Hungary

Published Online: Jun 23, 2022

Page range: 29 - 54

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2022-0003

Keywords
culture building, local identity, organising locality, (re-)valorising locality, staged folk tradition

© 2022 Ágnes Eitler, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Towards the Analysis of Tradition-based Projects of Locality: A Case Study from Rural Hungary

Published Online: Jun 23, 2022

Page range: 29 - 54

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2022-0003

Keywordsculture building, local identity, organising locality, (re-)valorising locality, staged folk tradition

© 2022 Ágnes Eitler, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
culture building, local identity, organising locality, (re-)valorising locality, staged folk tradition