The Covid-19 Pandemic and Contemporary Identity Attitudes of Young Vilamovians

Abstract

Vilamovians, who are descendants of thirteenth-century Germanic settlers, have retained a strong sense of their own identity for centuries. This identity developed gradually under the influence of many factors and dominant groups, and for this reason it has never been one-dimensional. As a minority, Vilamovians had to adapt to the political situation, which influenced the development of various ideologies and attitudes. After the Second World War, they were forced to abandon their language, traditional costume and any other signs of ethnic distinctiveness. As a result, Vilamovian culture began to quickly disappear. It is only recent decades that have seen a change in the situation, thanks to the youngest generation becoming involved in the revitalisation process. The engagement of researchers and the process of overcoming the historical trauma by the community members not only encouraged them to openly speak about Vilamovian identity – these developments also put it on a new track, adapting it to the realities of the twenty-first century. As it turned out, identity and the sense of distinctiveness were a much stronger determinant of the ethnic group than the language or traditional costume, which, although in use again, are far less popular among Vilamovians. The Covid-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact not only on the expressed identity attitudes, but also on activities shaping the revitalisation policy.