Ceremony

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For other uses, see Ceremony (disambiguation)}}}.

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.

Contents

1 Celebration of life
2 Celebration of events
3 Process
4 See also

Celebration of life

Traditionally, a ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a personal human career, marking the significance of (for example):

In 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.

Celebration of events

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 saints

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

coronation of a monarch
victory in battle

In Asian cultures, ceremonies also play an important role. In particular, the tea ceremony of several East Asian cultures is very well known.

Process

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.

Ceremony

Celebration of life

Celebration of events

Process

See also