Le cerimonie femminili del mevlid a Bursa e Gemlik. Rito, ruolo, identità.

Abstract

Without any real codification, the widespread ceremony of mevlid has readily incorporated secular elements. This results in a unique combination with its religious essence. I provide an outstanding case-study of contemporary Turkey's social dynamics, which strengthens Islam within the female community. I focus on mevlid as representing the new ideologies and political agenda of the current government. For this purpose I describe and analyze twenty-five mevlid ceremonies (birth, funeral, circumcision) officiated by women in Bursa and Gemlik, that I observed in August-September 2014. First, I examine the values given by participants to ritual aspects. Second, I analyze the education and social role of mevlid singers as essential subjects in the transmission of Islamic culture to the female community.

Keywords

• gender
• Islamic ceremonies
• identity construction
• contemporary Turkey