In his article “Norwegian National Myths and Nation Building,” Dag Thorkildsen explains that the very concept of a nation is "related to birth and descent" and "the classic idea of a homeland," and explains that, unlike today, that in the 1800s “patriotism was a virtue of the inhabitants” (p. 263). He discusses the “ethno-symbolic” view of nationalism which “stresses the importance of symbols, myths, values and traditions in the formation and persistence of nationalism” (p. 264).

But, when looking at European nationalism with even a cursory glance, we find it is the ancient, primal symbols of European culture that are always the images used in any successful nationalist movement. And, likewise, the myths always used to encourage ethno-national identity are always indigenous European myths.

Excerpt from Nationalism and Folk Identity
Download for subs: substack.com/@oakwisebecoming

or subscribestar.com/OakwiseBecoming