Deutsche Gesellschaft
für phänomenologische Forschung

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268909

Easter breakfast - a wealth of flavors, a wealth of relationships

a case study

Krzysztof T. Konecki

Abstrakt

This article explores sensory experiences, mainly taste, and their interaction with other senses (such as smell) during Easter meals, focusing on Easter breakfast as the central meal in Poland’s Easter celebrations. It presents a case study that investigates the experiences and social consensus regarding tastes during Easter meals, based on insights from a group of sociology students at a Polish university. The study is inspired by phenomenology of Alfred Schütz and his concepts of polythetic and intersubjective experience, and employs methods of contemplative sociology, including self-observations, self-descriptions, and contemplative notes. Key themes related to the sensory experience of Easter breakfast are reconstructed and analyzed. The main thesis of the paper is: sensory experiences contain social and personal memory. The interchangeability of perspectives on taste perception allows for an objective verification of individual experiences, granting them the status of typicality. This typicality is reinforced through ritual practices. A shared perspective is established through social interactions; however, cultural taste typifications often fail to fully encapsulate the sensory experience. Consequently, narratives—somatic accounts—become essential for capturing the unique, immediate qualities of a specific taste experience. These narratives not only describe tastes but also facilitate their discovery. This process unfolds within a particular mood, contributing to the festive joy.

Publication details

Published in:

(2025) Schutzian Research 17.

Referenz:

Konecki Krzysztof T. (2025) „Easter breakfast - a wealth of flavors, a wealth of relationships: a case study“. Schutzian Research 17.