The Everyday Patriotism: Rituals and School Environment as Continual Reminders of National Identity

Abstract

This study aims at exploring how the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) school environment and ritualized activities practiced by the students on a daily basis contribute to constructing their national identity. The data were drawn from ethnographic fieldwork involving observation of rituals and interviews with 83 informants. The findings show how the school system exposes the students to a diverse range of ritualized activities that help in the construction of national identity. The research contributes to the literature on national identity construction, specifically on ways of cultivating patriotism and national pride among school children.