Define the following terms:
Ritual: a set of fixed actions or words that are performed on a regular basis especially as a ceremony
contemporary culture: the art, music, architecture, literature, etc. of the present time.
Anthropological: the study of humankind. Study of human kinds origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, social customs etc.
Perplexing: something that is very puzzling or bewildering; confused mentally
Secular: of or relating to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal
Sacred: something that is devoted to a deity or any sort of religious purpose
Inevitable: something that is bound to happen
Questions:
1. What is ritual? Where does it originate
A Ritual is a set of fixed actions or words that are performed on a regular basis especially as a ceremony. Rituals come in an array of different shapes and sizes. At times rituals are performed in religious settings, at times performed in solitude; at times involving repeated sequences of actions, at other times not. Rituals are an expression of local culture, beliefs and religions. Culture, religion and traditions give root to a variety of rituals that are practiced and carried out throughout the globe. Being a reflection of beliefs and traditions rituals vary over different countries, cultures and religions.
2. What are rituals effects and how are they achieved?
People engage in rituals with the intention of achieving a wide set of desired outcomes, from reducing their anxiety to boosting their confidence, alleviating their grief to performing well in a competition – or even making it rain. Rituals enable one to support connection within the community and keep tradition alive.
3. Who is in control of rituals that you have experienced?
Religion, culture and ethnicity are in control of the rituals I experience. When talking about religion our 11 Gurus set certain rituals that we have continued to pass from one generation to the other. For example visiting the Gurudwara on the special religious occasions, taking part in paths, going to the Gurdwara during other special occasions such as birthdays to thank the lord, etc.
4. For each image and video clip explain how it could be considered ritualistic?
Haka is a ritual created by the rugby players. This ritual which is a dance is performed by the New Zealand rugby team. During this traditional dance, the rugby team members get together and perform this ritual at the stadium. This ritual is done to show the teams unity.
- Bridal Mehndi
This image is an example of a well known ritual. Since many decades, The pre wedding ceremony of putting mehindi on the bride has been taking place. A Brides beauty is incomplete without her mehindi. Before the wedding, all the women get together into a mehindi ceremony and enjoy this evening where the women get various designs placed on their hands, the bride getting the most mehindi on her hands, arms and feet. This has become a tradition. It is believed that the darker the mehidni the lore the husband loves the wife.
- Birthdays:
Birthdays are rituals because they have certain things set that are done every year on a birthday. The first being, having a cake with candles displayed on top. The people besides the birthday person engage themselves in singing a traditional song “Happy Birthday,” following which the birthday person makes a wish. Wanting his/ her wish to come true, the person blows the candles and begins to cut the cake which is then fed to everyone attending this ritual.
- Thanksgiving Dinner
Holding a thanksgiving dinner is a well known ritual. This ritual is held on Thanksgiving day. During this day, friends and family get together for a dinner. This dinner is begun by thanking the lord. During the dinner, Turkey is a must. This is a ritual as it is held every year for the past many many years during thanksgiving day.
- video: Friends ritual scene
A ritual doesn’t necessarily have to be something that has already been created. One can create their own ritual as well. This is a perfect example of a ritual that has been created by people themselves. The friends in this video have created this ritual in attempts to get over their boyfriends. First created a fire and then one had the list of objects to throw into that fire.
- Have you, your friends, or your family created any unique rituals? For example when I was a younger my family would go to Hawaii every Christmas. It was a family ritual. Anything can be a ritual. Explain how you feel when you are performing the ritual.
- Every 2 years we go visit India
Ever sinsce my dad came into Canada, which was in 1996, every two years our family goes back into India and spends at least a month there. Doing so makes me very happy as this gives me an opportunity to revisit and be emerged in our roots for a month. This gives me the opportunity to stay connected to my roots. This also gives me the opportunity to visit all my Friends and family living in India.
- Every year all our cousins get together and do langar seva at the gurdawra For over the past 10 years, all our cousins get together every year and have an akhand paath at a gurdwara, which is a 3 day long religious paath. All us cousins live all over across Canada, and this allows us to get together and spend some time together. I feel really happy performing this ritual as it gives me the opportunity to meet all my cousins that i never see otherwise as they live on the other side of the country. This ritual also gives us the opportunity to do seva at the gurdwara and participate in doing the paath which helps me achieve inner peace. After the competition of this ritual I know i am happy and in peace.
Read the following article on this site: https://culanth.org/curated_collections/4-ritual
Choose one of the articles highlighted and linked on the site and post a one page review
The Theft of Carnaval: National Spectacle and Racial Politics in Rio de Janeiro
by Robin E. Sheriff
Despite knowing the various traditions that exist, I failed to notice that some rituals actually when originated were meant solely for a certain class. Different rituals began in separate social classes. The poor and the rich had many rituals that were performed solely by their groups.
This was revealed through Robin E. Sheriffs Article, The Theft of Carnival: National Spectacle and racial Politics in Rio e Janeiro. Before reviewing, it is important to know the author better. Robn E. SHerriff is a a Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Hampshire.
In this article Robin E. Sherriff examples the rise and fall of Rios samba carnival. Although this ritual represents the Brazilian national culture and “its idea of Democratic racial politics,” this ritual can also be view as a racial exclusion. When this Ritual originated in the 1840s, only the rich were allowed to take part in the carnival. This ritual is a an example that not all rituals are “fair.”
However, this article also brings light to another fact which I completely agree with and know that it is for the better and a more social inclusion. Overtime everything evolves and one example is of rituals. Even rituals evolve over time. The world today is becoming more socially inclusive and thus so are many of the rituals. For example, this samba carnival started becoming more and more open as time went on. Today even the poor have begun taking part in this parade. It is no longer bound to just the rich people.
However many argue that this results in the real carnival coming to an end, that their ritual has been stolen by the people that weren’t even meant to take part in it. I disagree on this argument because I believe that engaging more people into a ritual you do doesn’t mean that the ritual has simply come to an end. In fact, it brings more color and light and enjoyment to the ritual.
I found this article to be very interesting as it highlight how not all rituals originated to be welcoming to all different kinds of people, however by the passing time even the rituals evolve to include more and more people. 🙂
Thank you!
Kiran Gill History 12 