PHILOSOPHICAL-RELIGIOUS AND SEMIOTIC FOUNDATIONS OF SOME ETHNIC CULTS (BY EXAMPLE OF THE CULT OF GODPARENTHOOD IN SERBIAN CUSTOMARY PRACTICES)

Abstract

This paper deals with the cult of godparenthood (Serb. “кумство”) in the light of Serbian folklore. The author considers the retrospective of the role and significance of the institution of godparenthood throughout the history: from the divine cult, through the character of St. John the Baptist, to the current roles that the godfather plays in contemporary society. It interprets the natural phenomena that are connected to this cult: the Godfather’s Straw and John’s Beam (Serbian - Jovanovagreda). Purpose: The aim of the research is to get to the essence of the cult role of the godfather and to reveal its deeper semantics in the domain of the Slavic divine pantheon. Methodology: The study was conducted using a comparative method based on processing an array of empirical material. Theoretical and Practical Value: The theoretical and practical significance of the study is to identify a common cultural code for Slavic ethnic groups, which allows constructing geopolitical relations in the future for Slavic peoples.