Issue 2, Vol. 83 (2024)

The study focuses on the changes in the concept of tradition in the context of the study of music and dance folklore in the Czech lands. In the field of ethnology, which focuses its attention not only on the present but also, and very importantly, on society in its historical dimension, tradition is a topic that researchers return to at different times. The text presents reflections on the changing scholarly terrain associated with music and dance folklore, presenting different approaches to its study and shifts in its interpretation. Attention is paid to the evolution of the content of terms such as folklore, folklorism and ethnocultural traditions, the problematic use of E. Hobsbawm's concept of invented tradition in the study of contemporary traditions and in the construction of new traditions referring to traditional folk culture.

The inhabitants of the Czech-German city of Brno stopped wearing traditional costumes in the mid-nineteenth century, and only several suburban villages supplying the market with local products kept them as a sign of quality. Material documents have disappeared; the oldest pictorial sources date from the turn of the twentieth century. Under the influence of svéráz [» peculiarity] and due to the need to demonstrate belonging to the Czech nation, festive folk dress from the Kyjov area was worn in the interwar period. In the second half of the twentieth century, this type of folk dress was also worn at kermesses. In the new millennium, individual city districts have made greater effort to restore the original folk dress ensembles. Sometimes, this is initiated by members of folk ensembles and local history and geography enthusiasts, but in many cases this activity comes from the ranks of political representatives. The restoration of folk costumes has thus become a matter of prestige, leading to competition between neighbouring city districts. The quality of the folk costumes corresponds to the level of effort to achieve credibility, and the financial resources available.

Both the Ukrainian and Slovak peoples have strong religious traditions. While both nations are predominantly Christian, most Ukrainians identify as Orthodox, and most Slovaks as Roman Catholic. However, this shared Christian foundation presents distinct challenges and opportunities for cultural adaptation, as religious practices and beliefs can play a significant role in the integration process. Despite its importance, the intersection of religiosity and the adaptation of Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia has not been sufficiently explored by European and Ukrainian scholars. The aim of this article is to examine how forced migration to Slovakia has influenced the religious practices, beliefs, and broader cultural adaptation of Ukrainian refugees, with a focus on their potential for adaptation in a new socio-cultural environment. The present research draws on a combination of semi-structured interviews with Ukrainian refugees, two online surveys (including one with open-ended questions), and participant observation to provide a comprehensive analysis. The findings reveal that Ukrainian refugees demonstrate considerable flexibility in adapting their religious practices, characterised by a pragmatic approach that blends traditional beliefs with the realities of their host society. This adaptive potential, observed through a process of “metamodern oscillation”, enables Ukrainian refugees to effectively navigate the cultural dynamics of Slovakia while maintaining connections to their religious identity.

The Štural farmstead, built on a deforested area in Velké Karlovice, has been under the administration of the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm since 1968.
The aim of the study is to capture the historical development, to summarise and evaluate the available sources of various kinds related to the object of interest, and to link them with the memories of the inhabitants living in the researched area and their family members, passed down through generations. The ambition is to describe the destiny of the inhabitants of the farmstead and all the aspects linked to their existence in this original place. It is research that is the cornerstone of each building that is transferred. The micro-historical approach can help to articulate other considerations concerning different stages of the development of the area under study, its inhabitants and, ultimately, the whole community.

Using two examples from the Haná region, the paper illustrates the influence of raabisation on the transformation of rural development. The first example is the newly established village of Rolsberk, which was constructed in the immediate vicinity of the village of Hodolany near Olomouc. The second example is an analysis of the transformation in the spatial arrangement of a manor farmstead in Velký Týnec, which was converted into a residential area with smallholdings and cottagers’ houses. In both cases, attention is paid to the reconstruction in connection with raabisation and the subsequent building development to the present day.