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Agios Transformers : The Use of Popular Franchises in Orthodox Christian Lambatha Candles

Löfgren, Jakob LU (2018) In Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 30(1). p.49-61
Abstract
“Lambatha” is the Greek word for celebratory candles used during Easter, christenings, and marriage ceremonies. Lambathas are elaborately decorated, often homemade pieces of folk art, but they are also made and sold commercially, either on a handicraft basis or, increasingly, by international toy franchise companies. Lambathas often feature a decorated candle and a small toy for the children. Homemade “franchise-bound” lambathas are readily available on Etsy.com, and toy companies, such as Barbie, Lego, and Marvel, sell pre-packaged candles with a toy feature. This article will showcase how popular culture has been appropriated into Orthodox Christianity by discussing the lambathas as a transgressive object located between the spheres of... (More)
“Lambatha” is the Greek word for celebratory candles used during Easter, christenings, and marriage ceremonies. Lambathas are elaborately decorated, often homemade pieces of folk art, but they are also made and sold commercially, either on a handicraft basis or, increasingly, by international toy franchise companies. Lambathas often feature a decorated candle and a small toy for the children. Homemade “franchise-bound” lambathas are readily available on Etsy.com, and toy companies, such as Barbie, Lego, and Marvel, sell pre-packaged candles with a toy feature. This article will showcase how popular culture has been appropriated into Orthodox Christianity by discussing the lambathas as a transgressive object located between the spheres of popular culture and religious practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Orthodox Church, popular culture, consumerism, Easter, craft, ritual, toy, candle, lambatha
in
Journal of Religion and Popular Culture
volume
30
issue
1
pages
13 pages
publisher
University of Toronto Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85046974494
ISSN
1703-289X
DOI
10.3138/jrpc.2017.0035.r2
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a3aa694e-2f77-45ba-97e4-64b3b5441d2c
date added to LUP
2022-10-03 11:13:57
date last changed
2023-04-15 04:00:41
@article{a3aa694e-2f77-45ba-97e4-64b3b5441d2c,
  abstract     = {{“Lambatha” is the Greek word for celebratory candles used during Easter, christenings, and marriage ceremonies. Lambathas are elaborately decorated, often homemade pieces of folk art, but they are also made and sold commercially, either on a handicraft basis or, increasingly, by international toy franchise companies. Lambathas often feature a decorated candle and a small toy for the children. Homemade “franchise-bound” lambathas are readily available on Etsy.com, and toy companies, such as Barbie, Lego, and Marvel, sell pre-packaged candles with a toy feature. This article will showcase how popular culture has been appropriated into Orthodox Christianity by discussing the lambathas as a transgressive object located between the spheres of popular culture and religious practice.}},
  author       = {{Löfgren, Jakob}},
  issn         = {{1703-289X}},
  keywords     = {{Orthodox Church; popular culture; consumerism; Easter; craft; ritual; toy; candle; lambatha}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{49--61}},
  publisher    = {{University of Toronto Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Religion and Popular Culture}},
  title        = {{Agios Transformers : The Use of Popular Franchises in Orthodox Christian Lambatha Candles}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jrpc.2017.0035.r2}},
  doi          = {{10.3138/jrpc.2017.0035.r2}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}