Majsko drvo u procesu promjene
The Maypole in the Process of Changing

Summary/Abstract: This article, based on the author’s fieldwork in Lipovljani and Samobor (Croatia), shows how the maypole, an element of an ancient custom round the feast days of St. Philip and St. Jacob, has adapted to the changing social, cultural and political circumstances between the beginning of this century and the present day. The dynamics of change arce traced through its various forms and meanings, beginning with the magic meaning in relation to the vegetation, and ending with the meaning that the maypole has for the community: marking the transition to an older age group, reflecting the community’s care for marriage among its members, helping to achieve identity among different groups of people, all the way to its inclusion into May Day festivities, as part of the iconography celebrating the Day of Labor in socialist Yugoslavia and reaction of catholic church on this changing.

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