Sveti likovi, svete vodice i zavjeti. O hodočašćima hrvatskog življa u mađarskoj Baranji
Holy Images, Holy Springs and Vows. On Pilgrimages of Croats in Hungarian Baranja

Summary/Abstract: In the first part of the text the author discusses pilgrimages and popular religiosity in general from theoretical and methodological aspects. In the second part the author presents data gathered during fieldwork among the Croatian population in the Hungarian part of Baranya. Using van Gennep’s and Tim er’s models the author discusses pilgrimage as a rite of passage and asserts that due to the vicinity of and frequent visits to sacred places Croatian pilgrimages have not had particularly prominent liminal elements. Taking William Christian’s typology of popular religion as a starting point the author then analyses Croatian pilgrimages as a form of the so-called pre-tridentine religiosity (religiosity of localized sacred images) in which, however, she recognizes certain elements of the so-called tridentine religiosity (religiosity not linked to special places). Pilgrimages are further analysed as communication with the sacred via prayers, requests and vows where the author pays special attention to the form of vows distinguishing ante and post interventum fulfillment of vows. Then, the author compares two types of pilgrimage, pilgrimages to great centers of the Marian cult, local and regional (e. g. Mariakéménd, Mariagyüd, Pécs) and pilgrimages to the so-called holy springs (e. g. Marâza, Mariakéménd, Baja). Both types are studied as complementary forms of communicating with the sacred. Finally, relying on theoretical literature the author offers an interpretation of popular mentality as stemming from popular religiosity of the Croatian people in the Hungarian Baranya.

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