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. They may be performative, generating feelings, reinforcing norms, and creating solidarity.

Religious rituals include sacraments, prayers, and pilgrimages; secular rituals include national holidays, weddings, funerals, graduation ceremonies; in everyday life, greetings, and sports pre-game rituals.

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

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