The Karolinum publishing house has issued a book by doctor Mirjam Moravcová called Ethnic Diaspora Festivities in the Czech Republic. Cultural Traditions between Isolation, Integration and Hybridization, regrettably, posthumously. The author had managed to prepare the publication in its entirety though, a testament to the fact the she had dedicated herself to expert research until the last moments. This book, an (abbreviated) English version of the Czech title Festivity jako ukazatel identity a společenského směřování (FHS UK 2019), marks the conclusion of her remarkably extensive academic work.
The publication reviews the festivities in the lives of immigrants who came to the Czech Republic after 1990 and who have since created new diasporas or established themselves as distinctive immigrant groups. Festivities are an important aspect of immigrants’ lives inside their social groups as they support the immigrants’ ethnic self-identification, strengthen their ties to their home country, and aid them in building a sense of belonging. The author elaborates on findings from research undertaken in various immigrant groups throughout the Czech Republic, focusing on the abandonment of festivities, their adaptation to the new environment, and the creation of new ones, while observing their social significance and cultural specificity.
The book is available in a printed, and electronic version.
Charles University
Faculty of Humanities
Pátkova 2137/5
182 00 Praha 8 - Libeň
Czech Republic
