Abstract

The article analyses the role of emotions in the sustaining of tradition by studying the case of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration. As global culture evolves, it becomes more important to ensure preconditions for sustaining local traditions such as the Song and Dance Celebration, popular in three Baltic states. Previous studies analyse social, cultural, political, economic, legal, and educational preconditions for sustaining this tradition, but there are indications that personal motivation and emotions are far more important than researchers and policy makers have suspected. The aim of this research is to study the role of emotions in the Song and Dance Celebration tradition. The theoretical framework for this study is based on the sociology of emotion, particularly the theory of interaction ritual. The methodology applied in this study is based on visual research methods; the sociological analysis of emotions is based on thirty-five photo-interviews with participants of the Celebration.