Who are “we”?
When people practice traditions together – a dance, a feast, a ritual – they are not just doing something. They are also saying, “This is who we are.” This shared sense of belonging is called collective identity.
Unlike individual identity, which is about who I am as a person, collective identity is about the “we.” It is sustained through shared practices, values, and symbols. Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is one of the strongest ways communities keep this “we” alive.
How collective identity is formed
According to the Handbook, there are some key aspects:
- Recognition: a community sees itself as a group, bound by certain practices.
- Transmission: rituals, songs, or crafts link generations, ensuring continuity.
- Multilayered belonging: one person can belong to a village, a region, a nation, and Europe at the same time.
- Dynamic: identity is not fixed. It changes with history, politics, and culture.
Think of yourself: you may feel at the same time connected to your family, your town, your country, and even to Europe. Traditions often help you navigate these layers.
ICH as product and vehicle of identity
Heritage is not just a reflection of identity – it also helps build it.
- As a product, communities choose which practices to keep alive (for example, reviving old festivals).
- As a vehicle, traditions express belonging and reinforce unity (for example, national anthems or community parades).
Case Study 1: Székler Identity – Between conflict and cohabitation
The Székler community in Transylvania shows how ICH can protect a minority identity.
- Practices: pilgrimages like Șumuleu Ciuc, distinct costumes, oral traditions, and craftsmanship.
- Institutions: the Székler National Museum documents and promotes their heritage.
- Challenges: assimilation pressures, demographic decline, and lack of recognition in official statistics.
Despite these difficulties, ICH helps Székler people maintain cohesion and resilience. Every pilgrimage, every costume worn in ceremonies says: “We are still here.”
Pause and think: Do you know a minority group in your region? How do its traditions help it survive in a larger national context?
Case Study 2: Junii Brașovului – A spring feast of identity
Each spring in the Șchei district of Brașov, groups of juni (young men) ride horses, wear traditional costumes, and parade through the city. This centuries-old celebration is called the Parade of Junii Brașovului.
- Practices: the parade, games, dances, and festive rituals.
- Symbolism: continuity with medieval roles of community defense.
- Functions: strengthens solidarity in the local community, but also projects Romanian identity on a national level.
Here, ICH is not about minority distinctiveness but about affirming continuity and national pride.
Pause and think: What role does costume play in the Junii feast? What does the horse symbolize? How does this ritual connect past and present?
A comparative look: Székler vs. Junii
Putting the two cases side by side helps us see how ICH works differently:
- Székler traditions → protect a minority identity, ensuring survival in the face of assimilation.
- Junii Brașovului → celebrate majority identity, reinforcing community belonging and national continuity.
- Both cases show that heritage can either mark difference or strengthen unity.
Try this: Make a table with the two cases. Compare community, practices, identity functions, and challenges.
Activities for you
Comparative Table — Székler vs. Junii (individual or pairs): Make a table comparing community profile, key ICH practices, identity function (minority protection vs. majority cohesion), institutional support and main challenges.
Heritage Identity Map (individual): Choose one tradition from your own community. Create a diagram showing how it contributes to local, regional, national and European identity.
Group debate: Motion: “ICH for protecting minority distinctiveness is more important than ICH for reinforcing majority cohesion.” Use Székler and Junii as your main evidence.
Community interview (optional fieldwork): Interview a tradition bearer from your community and produce a 5-minute audio/video clip. Submit with a short transcript.
Reflection questions
- How do rituals and traditions create a sense of “we”?
- Can the same tradition unite some people but exclude others?
- What happens if heritage becomes politicized?
- Which case – Székler or Junii – seems more resilient in today’s globalized world? Why?
- How can a minority community maintain its identity without official administrative recognition?