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Ritual

A ritual is a sequence of actions, often governed by explicit rules or conventions, performed in a prescribed order and imbued with symbolic meaning beyond the practical function of the actions. Rituals are typically communal and repetitive, and they may mark transitions, sacred occasions, or important social roles.

The term derives from the Latin ritus and French rite, related to ceremonial practices in various cultures.

Rituals involve prescribed steps, symbolic objects or gestures, and a sense of framing of time and space.

Religious rituals include sacraments, prayers, and pilgrimages; secular rituals include national holidays, weddings, funerals, graduation ceremonies;

In anthropology and sociology, ritual is analyzed as a mechanism for cohesion, identity, and meaning. Durkheim

Ritual studies examine how rituals are transmitted, adapted, or contested, and how they influence memory, conflict,

They
may
be
performative,
generating
feelings,
reinforcing
norms,
and
creating
solidarity.
in
everyday
life,
greetings,
and
sports
pre-game
rituals.
argued
that
rituals
reinforce
social
solidarity;
Turner's
work
described
liminality
and
communitas
in
rites
of
passage;
Eliade
highlighted
the
sacred
dimensions
and
hierophanies.
Contemporary
scholars
examine
ritualization
of
daily
life
and
performance,
and
the
role
of
power
and
ideology
in
ritual
practice.
healing,
and
social
change.