CALL FOR PAPERS

EIGHTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE SIEF WORKING GROUP ON THE RITUAL YEAR

MIGRATIONS

26th – 29th June 2012

Plovdiv, BULGARIA

SIEF WORKING GROUP ON THE RITUAL YEAR

in cooperation with

The Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum

(Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)

& Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv

The conference seeks scholarly dialogue on cultural interactions and changes caused by the migration processes, the ritualisation of short- or long-term migrations, and the specific holidays of the migrant communities, either inherited or adopted.

Case-studies as well as theoretical papers are invited on:

1. The migration of rituals and cultural interactions.

2. Rituals, holidays, and festivity of migrant communities.

3. The ritual year in South-East Europe.

4. Any other subject concerning the theory or practice of the ritual year.

The organising committees:

International: Lina Gergova (Secretary), Ekaterina Anastasova, Katya Mihaylova, Léon Van Gulik, Irina Sedakova

National: Krassimira Krastanova, Dobrinka Parusheva, Stoyan Antonov (Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv)

The Bulgarian co-organisers

The Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with The Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IEFSEM-BAS) is the result of the amalgamation of the Institute of Folklore Studies (1972) and the Ethnographic Institute with a Museum (1882) brought on 1 July 2010. Today it is the leading national institution in ethnological, anthropological and folklore studies. Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv is the largest institution of higher education in Southern Bulgaria and the second largest Bulgarian university with 9 faculties and many research centres. (http://pu.acad.bg/?ln=2)

Conference venue

Plovdiv is among the oldest cities in Europe and the second biggest city in Bulgaria. It is situated along the two banks of the river Maritza, on six beautiful hills, in the heart of Southern Bulgaria. More information: http://www.plovdivcity.net/

Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv is situated in the very centre of the city. It provides comfortable halls with modern facilities, which are suitable for any conferences and scientific meetings.

The conference will take place during the annual Plovdiv Music Festival held at the Ancient Theatre in

Plovdiv (http://www.ofd-plovdiv.eu/en/calendar.php).

Accommodation

The organizers could provide accommodation in the partner hotels for 40 EUR/night/room for single use, breakfast included. There are also a lot of alternative solutions – between 30 and 120 EUR (see also: http://www.plovdivhotels.com/).

Transportation

Plovdiv provides many opportunities for comfortable transportation: a small airport (low-cost flights from Moscow (seasonally), London and Milan: http://www.plovdivairport.com/?lang=2), bus and train connections with Sofia (the main Bulgarian airport: http://www.sofia-airport.bg/default.aspx, 130 km from Plovdiv) and many other directions. There are also bus and train connections with Istanbul (430 km), Thessaloniki (380 km), Bucharest (370 km) and Beograd (600 km).

Deadlines

Submission of titles and abstracts: 1st December 2011

Response with acceptance or rejection of the papers: 15th January 2012

Registration of the participants: 1st May 2012

(Payment of the fee is possible upon arrival)

Please submit the title and the abstract (up to 200 words) of your paper to: irina.a.sedakova@gmail.com, leonvangulik@gmail.com, and lina.gergova@gmail.com.

For further information please write to: lina.gergova@gmail.com.

Conference fee

70 EUR (including conference materials, welcome party, costs of publication, half-day excursion) + 5 EUR membership for the The Ritual Year SIEF Working Group. Further information about the registration process will be provided after the selection of the participants.

Conference programme

Papers will be given on 26, 27, 28 and 29 June 2012. On 26 June there will be an organised tourist walk in Plovdiv. On 28 June a half-day excursion to Rhodope Holy Mountain (Asenovgrad, Bachkovo Monastery and the region) will be provided for all participants. On 30 June an optional day-long excursion to Kasanlak and Thracian Kazanlak Tomb will be organized (20 EUR per person; http://tourism.kazanlak.bg/en/index.html).

Additional information

The organisers could provide information and help for planning of additional trips and holidays in Bulgaria. We especially recommend the Bulgarian ancient seaside towns Sozopol and Nesebar, and Bulgarian historical places like Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Melnik, Rila Monastery, etc.