Ritualization and emotional resilience in times of crisis: Insights from a diary study of Romanian Orthodox Easter during the first COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract

This paper explores the interplay between resilience and ritualization during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the role of celebrations in fostering stability and emotional well-being amid disruption. Grounded in Structural Ritualization (Knottnerus) and Interaction Ritual Chains (Collins) theories, it draws on a qualitative diary study of 73 Romanians during Easter 2020. Findings reveal participants’ commitment to preserving and adapting customs to pandemic constraints, showing that reshaping rituals, particularly around ritual focal points—key elements sustaining collective engagement—strengthened emotional resilience and induced positive mindset shifts. Focusing on Romanian Orthodox Easter, the paper underscores the cultural specificity of ritual disruption responses, demonstrating that the effects of crises on ritualized practices are shaped by their social and religious embeddedness. These insights suggest that resilience policies should consider the potential of collective events in promoting security, belonging, and agency, emphasizing the importance of integrating communities’ emotional needs into crisis response strategies.

Keywords

ritual disruption emotional resilience collective ritual events COVID-19 pandemic solicited diaries ritual focal points

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