Paper short abstract:

One of the most visited pilgrimage site in the world, Saint Anthony in Padua, has a peculiarity: few social studies refer to this phenomenon in present times. By means of a set of pictures this presentation aims to show how devotion is expressed by Singhalese and by Eritrean migrant communities

Paper long abstract:

One of the most visited sanctuary in the world, Saint Anthony in Padua (only second for number of pilgrims after the Virgin of Guadalupe) has a peculiarity: whereas studies on the ancient devotion to the saint and its manifestations abound in quality and quantity, few socio-anthropological studies refer to the phenomenon in present times. The contemporary panorama is indeed rich in terms of numbers, processions, confraternities, celebrations, ex-voto, exhibitions, charities, and presence in the arts, in the media and in social forums. In short, devotion to the saint is not fading away and his sanctuary is a repository of traditions, which are by no means fixed once and for all, being constantly reinvented in the light of the ever-increasing mobility due to migration. By means of a set of pictures produced by the author and her research group, this presentation aims to show the ways devotion is expressed and performed by Singhalese and by Eritrean migrant communities. It is a narration through images, which is not directly translatable into words since it refers to dance, dress, music, food, conviviality. The intention underlying the single images rather than the aesthetic aspect is the focus of the presentation. Such intention will be enhanced by the photo-elicitation technique, which gives voice to the research subjects, who actively explore with the researcher the meanings attributed to situations, behavior and objects, bringing to the centre of the ethnographic research “photographs and other visual media which become data rather than illustrate it” (Salazar 2012).