Abstract

One of the differences between Active Participation and Passive Participation is based on the concept of testimonies. As Contessa (1980: 89) suggests, almost every ritual holiday requires the presence of a mediator, such as a priest, who bears witness to the truth of the event and of the myth that is celebrated. The mediator also confirms the continuity of tradition. For instance, a head of state participating in a National Holiday or a priest participating in holidays of Patron Saints provides an important testimony for these holidays. Indeed, the audience that participates actively in the cultural event bears its testimony for the passive audience, or those who read about the event. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how the active audience testifies to the importance and ideology of a cultural event for the passive audience.