ARNOLD VAN GENNEP (1873–1957) AND THE VIRTUAL BOARDER AREA WHERE THE SOULS OF UNCHRISTENED DECEASED CHILDREN STAY
ARNOLD VAN GENNEP (1873–1957) AND THE VIRTUAL BOARDER AREA WHERE THE SOULS OF UNCHRISTENED DECEASED CHILDREN STAY
Author(s): Michael Prosser-SchellSubject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Customs / Folklore, Recent History (1900 till today), Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, 19th Century
Published by: Akadémiai Kiadó
Keywords: rites of passage; baptism; burial; ritual-research; Wild Hunt-Wild Host (Mesnie hellequin); narrative research; Limbus infantium;
Summary/Abstract: The article commemorates a certain scientific conception of “Folklore” which was presented by Arnold Van Gennep in the early years of the 20th century and which is widely unknown nowadays. Further, the issue is dealing with some points of Van Gennep’s narrative research i.e. the religious legends. The article discusses a particular and eminent problem in researching “rites of passage,” the problem of stillborn children, who could not be baptized and therefore could not be buried by a church ceremony either. There are and were very different and controversial definitions on the liminal space where these children’s souls may dwell, which can be localised neither in heaven nor in hell.
Journal: Acta Ethnographica Hungarica
- Issue Year: 58/2013
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 203-219
- Page Count: 17
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF