The Wheel invites submissions for an issue exploring the rich and diverse folk traditions, artistic expressions, and culinary practices of Orthodox Christian cultures. Across the Orthodox world—from the Balkans to the Levant, from the Caucasus to the diaspora—communities have preserved and reimagined customs that shape their religious and cultural identities. This issue seeks to examine these traditions, considering both their historical roots and contemporary relevance.
We welcome contributions including but not limited to:
- Traditional folk customs tied to Orthodox feast days, saints, and pilgrimage sites
- Liturgical and vernacular art, including iconography, embroidery, and woodwork
- The intersection of Orthodox spirituality and oral traditions, such as storytelling and song
- Culinary traditions, fasting practices, and festal foods within Orthodox cultures
- The adaptation of folk customs and artistic expressions in modern Orthodox communities, including the diaspora
- The role of Orthodox folk traditions in cultural identity and national narratives
Submissions may take the form of scholarly essays, ethnographic studies, personal reflections, or translations of relevant texts. We also encourage interdisciplinary approaches that bridge history, anthropology, theology, and cultural studies.