• It is formal ceremony repeated in the same way on particular occasions.
• It may be simple or complex.
• May be concerned with personal/social/religious issues.
• May express or strengthen a group's beliefs and organisation.
• Rituals are outward behaviour which express an inner intention.
• Rituals may also be seen as the re-enactment of a myth.

Why are rituals used?

Rituals help to satisfy needs

1. The Need for Food

Early man spent much time hunting for animals, gathering berries and fruits in order to survive. Over time, ritualistic ways of doing this emerged and evolved. Many groups of early man believed that animals were a gift from the gods and therefore must be treated with great respect when killed - thus, a ritual would be used to do so. In this same way, rituals could be used to ask for a fertile year and a good harvest.

2. The Need for Warmth and Shelter

Early man made their homes in caves and later in manmade shelters. In some groups this was accompanied by a great deal of ritual. An example of this may have been the ritual killing of an animal to put in the foundations of the new building. This was to ensure the arrival of a spirit guardian to protect the building.

3. The Need for Companions

Humans have a need to be with other people and ritual is often a way people come together to celebrate and communicate, to give thanks or to ask for help and guidance.

Rituals are used for Purification

In many religions, people believe that cannot communicate with their god until they have cleansed or purified themselves.

Examples of these include:

• Muslims wash their face, hands and feet before praying
• Hindus wash themselves in the Ganges
• The Peyote people of North America eat the Peyote cactus which causes them to vomit - this signifies purification.
• Christians baptise their children to cleanse them from 'original sin'.

Rituals help people to communicate

• Inner feelings, needs, desires and ideas

Rituals help to pacify

• Rituals can add to relieve anxiety and fear in people
• To give comfort
• To help move us through 'rites of passage'

Rituals help to maintain order

• To clearly define roles in society
• To maintain law and order in society

A Recipe for Ritual

• focus
• concentration
• belief

The elements of ritual

• atmosphere
• mood
• rhythm
• timin
• tempo
• focus
• contrast
• climax
• symbol in action

Movment qualities - Use of the the whole body

• locomotion
• fast/slos
• crescendo
• turns
• gestures

Vocal Qualities

• chorus
• chant
• repetition
• silence
• crescendo

Energy qualities

• swinging
• collapse
• suspension
• vibratory
• percussive
• sustained flow