The Feast of St. Stephen in Zanigrad. Celebration of Kinship, Village, and Neighborhood.

Abstract

Sv. Štefan je najpomembnejši praznik Zanigrada, opuščene vasi v občini Koper v slovenski Istri. Kljub temu, da je v vasi več kot deset let živel samo še en prebivalec in po njegovi smrti l. 1992 nihče več, se vsako leto na praznik zberejo nekdanji vaščani z družinami, njihovi sorodniki in prijatelji. Po l. 1995 je v praznovanje vključeno tudi blagoslavljanje konj, prej pa praznovanje s konji ni imelo zveze, saj konj v vasi niso imeli. Avtorica ugotavlja, da gre, kljub spremenjenemu zunanjemu dogajanju, še vedno za praznik sorodnikov, vaščanov in sosedov.

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St. Stephen’s Day is the most important holiday in Zanigrad, an unpopulated village situated in the municipality of Koper in Slovenian Istria. The village, which had been occupied by only one villager for over a decade, became uninhabited after his death in 1992. The yearly celebration of St. Stephen’s Day, however, brings together former villagers, their families, relatives, and friends. Even though the village has never had any horses, after 1995 the celebration includes the blessing of horses, a ceremony that has no connection with the past. Yet despite this introduction of new elements St. Stephen’s Day in Zanigrad remains the holiday of relatives, villagers, and neighbors.