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Ceremony




A ceremony is an activity, infused with Ritual significance, performed on a special occasion.


CELEBRATION OF LIFE

A ceremony may mark a Rite Of Passage in a human Career , marking the significance of (for example):


GOVERNMENT CEREMONIES

Sometimes, a ceremony may only be performed by a person with certain authority. For example, the opening of the United Kingdom Parliament is presided over by the Sovereign (currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II). The naming and launching of a warship 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 . The President Of The United States is customarily sworn in by the Chief Justice Of The United States , and the British Sovereign is always crowned by the Archbishop Of Canterbury .


CELEBRATION OF EVENTS

Other, society-wide ceremonies may mark annual or seasonal or recurrent events like:

Other ceremonies underscore the importance of irregular special occasions, such as:

In some Asian cultures, ceremonies also play an important role, for example the Tea Ceremony .


PROCESS

Ceremonies may have a physical display or , a Procession , the laying on of hands. A declaratory verbal pronouncement may explain or cap the occasion, for instance:

  • I now pronounce you man and wife.

  • I swear to serve and defend the nation ...

  • I declare open the games of ...


Both physical and verbal components of a ceremony may become part of a Liturgy .


SEE ALSO