Over the years, people seem to have higher and higher expectations for the festival, but some people will be confused. Is it so important to celebrate the festival?
“You don’t understand! It’s called ritual.”
What is the sense of ritual? Is it that important?
What is the sense of ritual?
In psychology, ritual is a series of symbolic activities, including processes, gestures, behaviors, words, music, dance and so on.
Moreover, rituals usually have fixed behaviors, sequences and rules (such as Thanksgiving turkey, socks at the head of Christmas bed, etc.), and can also be constantly adjusted and updated in cultural changes (such as giving apples to each other on Christmas Eve in Chinese Culture).
The experience and feeling brought by ritual events is the sense of ritual.
The sense of ritual is more a psychological need. We are eager to feel our existence through ritual and feel that the moment of life is different from other moments.
Is it ceremonial only for festivals?
No！ The sense of ritual also contains more meaning!
Traditional rituals mostly refer to religious rituals (sacrifice, religious sacrament, etc.) and secular rituals (wedding, funeral, coronation, adult ceremony, etc.), but the sense of ritual does not necessarily need to be obtained in these fixed rituals and solemn and grand festivals.
As long as you have specific and fixed forms and procedures, and participate in them, you can get a sense of ritual!
After the end of the day, young people can get a sense of ceremony by carefully scribbling their hand accounts, shaking left and right when removing the blind box, a fixed cup of coffee before work, aromatherapy and milk before going to bed, etc.
Is ritual so important?
Don’t underestimate the sense of ritual. Many researchers have found that it has brought wonderful changes to people’s life.
➊ the sense of ritual can increase our sense of control over life
Rituals have fixed forms and procedures, which means that no matter how the outside world and surrounding environment change, as long as we participate in the ceremony, we can still get a sense of certainty and control, which makes us feel secure and at ease.
This may be the reason why we emphasize and like the sense of ceremony more and more in this more uncertain world under the influence of the epidemic.
➋ rituals can help us relieve anxiety
Research shows that rituals can help us relieve anxiety when facing stress.
Basketball players gathered together to cheer, Nadal should drink water in a fixed order before the tennis match, etc.
These seemingly superstitious behaviors are actually really useful for alleviating anxiety! Nadal said, “these rituals are a way to help me get ready before the game. It makes me feel that everything is in order.”
➌ the sense of ritual helps us experience the meaning of life in a creative way
The sense of ritual is a surprise that we strive to create and construct for ourselves in our ordinary life. It is a small blessing in life.
Studies have found that if you eat the same piece of chocolate in a more ceremonial way, it will bring you more happiness than if you eat it at will.
The researchers asked participants to perform a ceremony, first divide the chocolate bar into two parts without tearing off the wrapping paper, then open only half of the chocolate bar to eat, and finally open the other half of the chocolate bar to eat. As a result, people who had a sense of ritual reported that chocolate was delicious.
The sense of ritual can be different for everyone, and everyone can have their own sense of ritual.
Good rituals can help us relieve anxiety and go to sleep quickly
For example, soak your feet before going to bed
Good rituals can also help us increase our happiness
Such as fireworks
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