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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremony | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T14:59:52.070008+00:00 | kb-cron |
Marriage, or a wedding, is the flagship ceremony of every culture. Almost as important is the funeral or burial ceremony. The funeral ritual, too, is a public, traditional and symbolic means of expressing our beliefs, thoughts and feelings about the death of someone loved. Rich in history and rife with symbolism, the funeral ceremony helps us acknowledge the reality of the death, gives testimony to the life of the deceased, encourages the expression of grief in a way consistent with the culture's values, provides support to mourners, allows for the embracing of faith and beliefs about life and death, and offers continuity and hope for the living. Birth, i.e. a naming ceremony Naming Ceremonies existed in human culture long before Christianity or any of the major religions came on the scene. Every community has a ceremony to welcome a new child into the world, to give that child recognition, and to celebrate the birth of new life. Baptism or christening ceremony Initiation (college orientation week) Puberty Social adulthood (Bar (or Bat) Mitzvah), coming of age ceremonies Graduation Award ceremonies Retirement Death (Day of the Dead)
Spiritual (baptism, communion) Grand opening Aging
== Celebration of events == Other, society-wide ceremonies may mark annual or seasonal or recurrent events such as:
Vernal equinox, winter solstice and other annual astronomical positions Weekly Sabbath day Inauguration of an elected office-holder Occasions in a liturgical year or "feasts" in a calendar of saints Opening and closing of a sports event, such as the Olympic Games Other ceremonies underscore the importance of non-regular special occasions, such as:
Coronation of a monarch Victory in battle In some Asian cultures, ceremonies also play an important social role, for example the tea ceremony.
== Process ==
Ceremonies may have a physical display or theatrical component: dance, a procession, the laying on of hands. A declaratory verbal pronouncement may explain or cap the occasion, for instance:
I now pronounce you husband and wife. I swear to serve and defend the nation ... I declare open the games of ... I/We dedicate this ... ... to ... Both physical and verbal components of a ceremony may become part of a liturgy.
== See also ==
== Notes ==
== External links ==
Media related to Ceremonies at Wikimedia Commons