Symbolic Religious Landscape: Religious and Patriotic Symbolism in the Pilgrimage Centres in Poland

Abstract

Combining religious and national symbolism is not a new phenomenon. There are known examples of countries where there were or still are connections between nationality and religion. Pilgrimage centres are examples of symbolic religious landscapes based on the presence of the sacred. Such anthropogenic landscapes are a visible result of culture formed under the influence of religion, a special spiritual and often national heritage expressed through sacred objects, visual evidence of religiousness and, likewise, national identity. Here, we present a detailed analysis of religious and patriotic symbolism present in the largest pilgrimage centres in Poland. Additionally, the paper discusses a. the historical and socio-cultural conditions of the presence and significance of these elements in religious landscapes; b. the strong relationships between religiousness and the sense of national identity, and c. the resulting significant importance of pilgrimage centres in the development and consolidation of a sense of national identity. Symbolic elements in the analysed pilgrimage centres refer to both universal religious content and cults popular in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as to the identity of the analysed places. In addition to religious symbolism, national and patriotic symbols often occur in Polish sanctuaries. Their occurrence is historically conditioned and, to a large extent, results from the strong ties between religiousness and national identity.

Noken Local Wisdom as Representation of God's Love

“…The knowledge and values of ancestral cultural heritage have always been passed down from generation to generation, teaching that noken is not just a traditional bag made by the Papua women, but it represents Ugatame, who is believed to be the Creator and Protector of the universe, including the lives of Papuans. As a result, this study affirms or confirms prior findings that language is a symbolic aspect of culture (Bayadilova-Altybayeva et al, 2023;Liro et al, 2022).…”

“…A symbol is a tangible object seen by the senses whose meaning is a product of human spiritual activity. Symbols emerge as physical manifestations of human thoughts, feelings, and desires (Bayadilova-Altybayeva et al, 2023;Hegy, 2023;Kokosalakis, 2001;Liro et al, 2022). The cultural symbols used in Papuan society in this study are noken and local language.…”

“…Described symbols carry information with values and meaning embedded within them. In addition, symbols are often considered as markers of unique conditions based on standards established within a specific society (Liro et al, 2022). Symbols are defined as a form of interpersonal communication and the foundation of society's cultural features.…”

“…Culture is embodied in texts, proverbs, and phraseological units that are passed down from generation to generation. Through language, every nation can gain information about the spiritual essence and cultural wealth of its people because language can absorb and passed down the reality, worldview, and customs of the nation from generation to generation as heritage (Bayadilova-Altybayeva et al, 2023;Brauchler, 2014;Hegy, 2023;Liro et al, 2022;Sihombing, 2018).…”

“…As a result, culture is a complex system that combines spiritual and material product that are perceived and used by members of society, and passed down from generation to generation. (Idang, 2018;Liro et al, 2022).…”