The Importance Of Ritual.
Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored
Rituals play an important part in our lives. Whether formal or informal they are an important way of anchoring us and giving stability in a tempestuous world. Formal rituals vary across cultures and religions and have existed since pre-historic times. They play a part in human history and culture, and serve many functions, from commemorating major events, to strengthening community bonds.
The psychological benefits, whether participating in a formal event, or conducting personal rituals, such as those athletes perform before an event, or even in how you prepare your breakfast, are hugely important. In Ireland, the rituals of funerals are an incredible community event, bringing people together to celebrate not the passing of life, but life itself, and community. For the next of kin, they can also provide a distraction from the awful feelings of loss and grief over the first few days. They provide comfort, they reduce anxiety and can create control in difficult circumstances.
All these big life rituals, from birth to death are a way of fostering community spirit and a sense of belonging. They promote social cohesion and strengthen relationships between the participants. They help us navigate the transitions in life: birth, coming-of-age, marriage, death. Rituals help us restore harmony. They can be described as a symbolic expression of actual social relations, status, or the role of individuals in a society. Ritual has also been described as referring to a transcendent, spiritual reality, and to the ultimate values of a community.
In his book, Homo Ludens, the Dutch historian Johann Huizinga, examines the history of play. Much of what he describes as play, we can describe as ritual. He points out that there is evidence going back thousands of years that Carnival, as in Rio de Janeiro, or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, are the same ritual practiced in many parts of the world for thousands of years. ‘Carnival’ comes from a word meaning ‘meat;’ ‘Mardi Gras’ means ‘Fat Tuesday’ and happens at the same time. These are the food festivals that must have gone on in some capacity since the beginning of humanity.
How have rituals changed over the years? What about your own personal rituals? Have they changed? In recent years, when I am not working, the first thing I do in the morning, before coffee or breakfast, is play a game or two of online chess! I do not know if this is a ritual or an addiction, but it is something I find hard to shake.
I would love to change some aspects of how funerals are conducted in modern times to reflect the pressing environmental concerns of today. But changing these rituals does not diminish the value and importance of a community event. Weddings have changed a lot in Ireland, reflecting the change from a theocratic society to a more culturally diverse nation. However, some of the rituals remain, such as hand-fastening, from where the expression ‘tie the knot’ comes.
Have a think about your own rituals, and why they may be important to you. I must go now. It is time for my apple!
Bernie Logan 7/1/25
