I Olav den heliges fotspår. En studie av historiebruket vid fem nutida västsvenska Olavsleder

Abstract

This study is about the background, the creating and the using of the contemporary walking trails of Saint Olav in Bohuslän, from a perspective of history use. This study investigates the causes behind the creating of the studied walking trails, their relevance in our contemporary society, and how we, in a perspective of history use, may understand their causes and relevance. From a perspective of history use I have studied litterature as well as unprinted sources. Webbsites constitutes a big part of the analyse material, with mail- interviews in an additional funktion. My conclusions are that the renaissance of pilgrimage is clearly visible in Bohuslän. This has, according to the organizers of the walking trails in this study, to do with peoples longing for stability in a world with uncertainty and constant changes. These walking trails become a use of history, in a community, with roots and with the history culture. The storytelling of the life of Olav seems to give the walking trails dignity and credibility to the people of today. But the history consciousness around Olav, out on the walking trails, is rather disengaged from the history culture. The use of the history is not so much about the life and fate of Olav, as it is the history of the people that has walked these walking trails before. The use of history is often clearly connected with the history of the local village.