Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of the Sociological Study of Holidays: The Sacred, Time, and Practices

Abstract

The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations of the sociological analysis of holidays from the perspective of classical 20th-century theories. Emphasis is placed on theories of holidays dedicated to their nature and essence, as well as their connection with phenomena of the sacred, the collective, and the social. It is underscored that these theories trace a direct link between holidays, the "burning through" of the social fabric, the "filling of the void," and other phenomena identified by anthropologists and sociologists. The article notes that these theories are based on the contributions of prominent figures in sociological, anthropological, and humanities scholarship, such as G. Bataille and R. Caillois (the College of Sociology), É. Durkheim, and M. Bakhtin with his theory of carnival. Special attention is given to the conceptual analysis of the dialectics of unity and struggle between the individual and the collective in holidays. A typology of holiday functions is identified and described; the author’s own topology of holidays and their types is provided; and a series of hypotheses for further research on festive phenomena are formulated. Considering the dialectic of the sacred and the profane in Émile Durkheim’s studies, the article highlights spatial techniques for concentrating the sacred. It analyzes the idea of the "rupture" of the social, the phenomena of transformation in holiday manifestations, and their epiphenomenality under modern conditions—particularly the "dispersion into everyday life" of holidays as a special time-and-place-for-all. Significant attention is devoted to analyzing the relationship between rituals and holidays in the works of the aforementioned scholars. The author proposes the metaphor of caverns, which can be either filled or empty—spaces one can "fall into." It is noted that this metaphor enables the conceptualization and explanation of the specificity of holidays in a postmodern and individualized world.Within the theoretical framework of the College of Sociology, the focus is placed on the concept of excess and the "economy of the holiday," as well as the issues of order and chaos. It is emphasized that excess and the lavish expenditure of resources, time, and space prompt a reconsideration not only of archaic celebratory practices but also of contemporary marketing and semiurgic practices. The article formulates conclusions regarding the limitations of the conducted research and outlines prospects for further study of the chosen subject.