The manifestation of values and identity in travelling: The social engagement of pilgrimage

The paper deals with the significance of values and identity in travelling. Different conceptions such as pilgrimage, spiritual tourism, personal heritage tourism, holistic tourism, and valuistic journeys are presented. Travel diaries of the 16th century religious pilgrimage of Mikalojus Kristupas Radvila the Orphan (in Polish: Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł 'Sierotka') and the 21st century secular pilgrimage of Lithuanian youth to Siberia are analysed. Regardless of the different time perspectives and the different motivations of travellers, the analysis of travel diaries reveals common points in the manifestation of identity and values during the journeys. This analysis confirms that the existential wish to search or manifest a person's identity and values is demonstrated in different behaviour characteristics of pilgrims, and has different forms of rituals. Such types of journeys have a transformative potential in both spiritual aspects and social engagement. Findings from this study stress that the socio-cultural potential and importance of pilgrimage can fulfill the spiritual needs of travellers or at least help to recognize those needs.