Tuesday, November 10, 2015

American rituals

In the mythological framework of a culture, ritual is a means of binding individuals into cohesive groups by structured actions and events to give meaning to life events such as birth, puberty and death.

In America, the two greatest binding rituals are Black Friday and Super Bowl Sunday.

Black Friday begins with the sacred Thanksgiving meal to nourish participants for challenges ahead. Shortly after the meal, the pre-ritual evening practice begins. On Black Friday all converge at the Cathedrals of Plenty with festive costuming, music and decor.

Super Bowl Sunday brings feasting and drinking all day. Participants often clothe themselves in official regalia of the day. They listen to little sermons from the TV preachers, and at designated times dance up and down with abandon. Some lucky few get to attend the actual services and bond with other worshippers who are then no longer strangers.

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