Rituals are "transformative
performance revealing major classifications, categories, and contradictions of
cultural processes" (Grimes 1976:16). Victor Turner; Edith
Turner. Image and Pilgrimage in Christian
Culture (ACLS Lectures on the History of Religions). Victor further
portrays rituals as coping mechanisms for an individual or a group of people
adjusting to internal changes and adapt to their external environment. When I
think of rituals or ceremonies I immediately think of rituals that honor the
dead. These rituals help us remember and connect to their memory and honor
their lives on earth. One believes that one can have some connection with them
even in their after through such rituals and ceremonies.
However rituals can also be
insignificant part of daily life. Some examples of daily rituals are getting
off on the same side of the bed every morning or grabbing a cup of coffee
before heading out for work. Such rituals are also coping mechanisms in a way
for they help us adapt to the external stresses of the day. We choose to
perform these rituals and hold them sacred. If even one of these rituals is
taken out of our routine we find that something is a miss in the world, as
though something is not right. How many times have we heard some version of
this from people, “I’m just not having a good day because I didn’t have time to
grab my coffee this morning.” Yes some of this has to do with the caffeine
withdrawal but the habitual action of grabbing a cup of coffee is equally important
as the caffeinated beverage itself.
Some of become really superstitious
if certain rituals aren’t performed. Like wearing one’s lucky socks before a
game. Here the person assumes that they can alter a situations outcome if they
conducted this ritual. This is a coping mechanism as well because it helps the
person rationalize that the outcome has to be in their favor because they
performed their special ceremony and therefore can minimize stress. This is also
an aspect of sacred rituals.
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