A01=Dimitris Xygalatas
arousal
Arousal Rituals
Author_Dimitris Xygalatas
Category=QRA
Category=QRM
constantine
costly
Costly Ritual
Costly Signalling Theory
dionysian
Dionysian Origin
eastern
Eastern Rumelia
Endogenous Opioids
Endorphin Rush
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
External Conditioning
Flashbulb Memories
Greek Macedonia
Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Religion
high
High Arousal Rituals
Higher Level Phenomena
Icon Stand
Members Free Ride
Mental Processes
origin
personal
Public Administration
Public Tv Channel
Religious Transmission
rituals
rumelia
Saint Athanasius
Special Agent Rituals
Vice Versa
Vigil Light
Young Man
Product details
- ISBN 9781845539764
- Weight: 630g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 27 Nov 2012
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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The Anastenaria are Orthodox Christians in Northern Greece who observe a unique annual ritual cycle focused on two festivals, dedicated to Saint Constantine and Saint Helen. The festivals involve processions, music, dancing, animal sacrifices, and culminate in an electrifying fire-walking ritual. Carrying the sacred icons of the saints, participants dance over hot coals as the saint moves them. 'The Burning Saints' presents an analysis of these rituals and the psychology behind them. Based on long-term fieldwork, 'The Burning Saints' traces the historical development and sociocultural context of the Greek fire-walking rituals. As a cognitive ethnography, the book aims to identify the social, psychological and neurobiological factors which may be involved and to explore the role of emotional and physiological arousal in the performance of such ritual. A study of participation, experience and meaning, 'The Burning Saints' presents a highly original analysis of how mental processes can shape social and religious behaviour.
Dimitris Xygalatas is Assistant Professor in Anthropology at Aarhus University.
