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Panigyirs of Imbros: Building Community and Placemaking on an Aegean Island
Abstract
The island of Imbros/Gökçeada, historically populated by Greek Orthodox, was exempt from the forced migration imposed by the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in the first half of the 20th century. Imbrian Greeks, however, could not escape the nationalization and homogenization efforts of Turkey in the last half century. As a result, the natives of this marginal borderland between Turkey and Greece were forced to abandon their homes and migrate to Greece and elsewhere especially during the decade of 1964-74 due to certain ‘unofficial’ policies of the Turkish government, which are now called as ‘Turkification’ policies. The changes in the social fabric of everyday life were further complicated in the last two decades by the return of the Greek Imbrian diaspora to visit their homeland and to celebrate religious festivals. This paper examines these contemporary religious festivals on Imbros, which often take the form of saints’ day celebrations and are called panigyri in Greek and panayır in Turkish. I argue that panigyris, observed in the churches, chapels, and village squares scattered across the island, are one of the most important ritual acts for the mediation of belonging in Imbros. Through the panigyris Imbrian Greeks cultivate a sense of community and a sense of place, because for them the island is not an abstract or imagined homeland; but a landscape that they return to every year to re-member and to celebrate.
Discipline
Anthropology
Geographic Area
Turkey
Sub Area
None