Traditional Festivals and Urban Villagers’ Social Relationships: An Interaction Ritual Theory Perspective

The transition from a rural to an urbanized society has disrupted social relationships. However, few studies have addressed this issue. Building on interaction ritual theory, this study investigates how urbanization and the traditional Dragon Boat Festival have reshaped villagers’ social relationships in Liede, a redeveloped urban village in Guangzhou, China. The qualitative findings reveal that, under the influence of urbanization and festivals, villagers’ interactions include four interaction rituals: traditional rural living rituals, modern urban living rituals, Dragon Boat Festival rituals, and living rituals after the festival. The Dragon Boat Festival particularly supports the villagers in reshaping their social connections and aids in their reintegration into the community of acquaintances. This study offers theoretical contributions on interaction ritual theory and urban village research. Furthermore, practical implications are provided for strengthening the community’s social cohesion.