The purpose of this study lies in elucidation of the basic and specific factors that influenced the development of the folklore movement in years 2000 – 2015. There are several factors directly influencing the existence itself, as well as the creation and state of this movement. The following text deals with folklore collectives, folklore festivals, competitions, shows, institutions and important personalities, as all these aspects are considered crucial for the given area of study. The period of the last fifteen years brings a new attitude in several contexts. In the past, the life of the authentic folklore existed within small social groups which were its direct creators. In present days, however, the traditional manifestations of folklore of the past became the manifestations of the mass culture. Furthermore, opposite to the variability of the folklore they show signs of uniformity. The elementary difference in comparing the past with the present can be found in natural spontaneity of the folklore in the past and institutional directing and organization of the folklorism nowadays. Somewhere among these features it could be possible to find the fundamental role and significance of the folklore movement in Slovakia.
The structure of holidays and festivals in Slovakia has confirmed the fact that they are mainly religious, or better to say Catholic holidays and festivals. The data from recent census, symbolic motifs on banknotes and coins, as well as the official state awards confirm that the image of Slovakia has not exceeded the magic circle of preserved national traditions and confession of faith. The symbolism of state holidays and festivals and memorial days remains within the foundation myth and adoration of national heroes and traditions. The ritual content of holidays and festivals together with the used symbols and myths should confirm the legitimacy and strengthen the authority of their actors or those historical personalities or ideas which have been adopted by a group. It is to provoke people’s emotions and enthusiasm towards the policy as well as manifest their understanding of the policy. Political attitudes have been formed more under the influence of symbolic forms than under utilitarian calculations.
In the last decades the fields of special events have grown dramatically. Globally there has been watched an enormous quantitative and qualitative boom of events. Mega-events, such as Olympics or World’s Fair, became part of global culture and they are known for amazing visit rates amounting to millions. They fulfil numerous functions in economic, cultural and environmental spheres. Their impacts are multiplied by factors, such as tourism and media with worldwide coverage. The need for managing the impacts of special events is appeared in order to protect and develop cultural, economic and environmental ambient for other generation. The article draws attention to necessity of complex study of special events, not only in the field of event management, event tourism or other economic sciences. The focus is concentrated to social sciences with intent to evoke the reaction of the culturology to the field of special events. The main view is dedicated to special events as a cultural value with an own evolution dated back to the appearance of first religious ideas. The history of special events is analysed depending upon the evolution of human culture/society with accent on tourism as a former factor. By this the author confirms relation among events, culture and tourism.
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