Spiritual Kinship on the Island of Lastovo in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century

Abstract

Over the past centuries, the island of Lastovo was a closed and isolated community in which the institution of godparenthood played a cohesive role. Based on the fi eldwork conducted in September 2015, this article investigates and analyses spiritual kinship on the island of Lastovo in the nineteenth and twentieth century in terms of the choice of godparent, confi rmation sponsor and marriage witness as well as the role of godparenthood in everyday life. The analysis reveals that lower natality, pursuit of education outside the island and depopulation had a greater impact on the centuries-old type of the institution of godparenthood and the social role of godparents than the island’s isolation due to the permanently stationed military troops.

Keywords

• Lastovo
• spiritual kinship
• 19th and 20th century
• social networks
• customs
• baptism
• confirmation
• marriage
• fieldwork