Ritual Classification

Our ritual of marriage can be an example of a rite of exchange and communion. A rite of exchange and communion is a rite where you get something for doing something in return. Our ritual of marriage gives each partner a promise of being together for the remainder of their lives. With the giving of this promise to each other, they are given the hope for fertility. This hope though is only cemented when they have raised their first kitten that was given to the couple at the wedding. In other words they get hope of fertility, after giving a promise to each other and raising their first kitten.

Our ritual for the institution of our economy, our catnip ritual, can be an example of a technological ritual. A technological ritual reaches to influence or control nature. Technological rituals are typically used for the production of resources or in many hunting and gathering societies. We perform our catnip ritual to ensure the production of the resource catnip. We plant the catnip a certain way, and follow our ritual to a tee in hopes of a better crop production. In this way we are trying to control nature to give us the flourished fields of catnip, which helps in the preservation of our society.

For the institution of government, the ritual we perform when a person becomes a board member can be an example of an ideological ritual, and more specifically a rite of intensification. A rite of intensification unifies a community by reinforcing the values and norms of the community. In our ritual the participant goes around the community and gives thanks to every member of the community. This unifies the community and strengthens it. The body puzzle the board members perform exemplifies the value of unity and equality to the community. The ritual serves to unite the community and reinforce their values.

In the institution of religion, the daily ritual to Catalonia is an example of a protective ritual. A protective ritual serves for activities that are seen as unpredictable or dangerous, but mostly grants the feeling of safety to people. We perform our daily ritual to gain a connection to our Catalonia. We strive for this connection because Catalonia protects us and has the ability to revive life. This ritual that captures the connection to Catalonia gives the participant the feeling of hope, but more importantly the feeling of safety. If one is connected to Catalonia they are protected and safe from the unpredictable aspects of life.