ABSTRACT
In Venice, the grand rituals follow the Christian liturgical calendar, which meshes with another calendar that commemorates the Republic's historic and mythical events. The intrar marks the enthronement of the new rector and the old one's departure, but it also allows Murano's society and political structure to walk the boards, on stage. Ritual is one of the rare opportunities to see, all assembled, the community so often evoked in public discourse, to give it form, to affirm its solidity, and to reawaken the sentiment of belonging. In Italian towns and villages, the countless trades and professions, and the many social and legal standings shape a complex societal world, and the schema: rich/poor does its description little justice. At Murano, the glass trade gives rise to a vocabulary based on rank and prestige, and on the industry's internal social hierarchy; this nomenclature is also influenced by technical competence and savoir faire.
