Modern holidays in Lithuania. Researching observance of professional holidays

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Miestas; Miestiškas; Modernybė; Profesinis; Profesionalas; Šventės; Holidays; Lithuania; Modernity; Professional; Urban.

ENOne of the most significant areas of ethnic (rustic) culture that has been analysed in the historiography of customs and holidays of the Lithuanian ethnology until now is traditional holidays and their development. Meanwhile such non-traditional festivals as professional holidays have remained in the margins of ethnology. These holidays were made especially popular in the Soviet times, in an attempt to lure away the Socialistic society from religious festivals and introduce new holidays, but they are observed nowadays as well. However, with the growing number of various events, expansion of the holiday calendar and introduction of new vocations and related holidays, it is important to better understand the place and dynamics of the new holidays in contemporary culture. The present article is an attempt to answer the key question how the significance of the new festival and tradition of its observance are being modelled. The research into observance of professional holidays serves as a tool to provide the answer. [From the publication]