Ceremony
 |
Part of the ceremony of the Changing of the Guard in Whitehall, London. |
A
ceremony is an activity, infused with
ritual significance, performed on a special occasion.
Traditionally, a ceremony may mark a
rite of passage in a personal human
career, marking the significance of (for example):
*
birth*
initiation*
puberty* social
adulthood
*
graduation*
marriage*
death*
burialIn certain circumstrances a ceremony may only be performed by a person with certain authorities. For example, the opening of Parliament is controlled by the Speaker of the House. The naming and launching of a war ship will be under the supervision of its Captain or a higher ranked naval officer. A wedding will be performed by a priest or a Civil Celebrant, as in Australia.
Other, society-wide ceremonies may mark annual or seasonal or recurrent events like:
* vernal
equinox* winter
solstice* weekly
Sabbath day
*
inauguration of an elected office-holder
* occasions in a
liturgical year or "feasts" in a
calendar of saintsYet other ceremonies underscore the importance of irregular special occasions, such as:
*
coronation of a
monarch* victory in
battleIn Asian cultures, ceremonies also play an important role. In particular, the
tea ceremony of several
East Asian cultures is very well known.
Often ceremonies have a physical display or
theatrical component:
dance, a
procession, the laying on of hands. But even greater importance usually attaches to a declaratory verbal pronouncement which may explain or cap the occasion, for instance:
* I now pronounce you man and wife.
* Happy New Year!
* I swear to serve and defend the nation ...
Both physical and verbal components of a ceremony may become part of a
liturgy.
*
rite of passage*
gift*
human condition*
initiation rite*
Tjurunga
