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{{Short description|Event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion}}
{{Other uses}}

[[File:Koninklijk Koetsier 2013 74.JPG|150px|thumbnail|Ceremonial at court during {{Lang|nl|[[Prinsjesdag]]|italic=no}}]]

A '''ceremony''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|'|s|ɛ|r|ə|m|ə|n|i}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|s|ɛ|r|ə|ˌ|m|oʊ|n|i}}) is a unified [[ritual]]istic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion.

The word may be of [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]] origin, via the Latin {{Lang|la|[[Glossary_of_ancient_Roman_religion#caerimonia|caerimonia]]}}.<ref>{{cite book|last=Grimes|first=Ronald L.|editor=Willi Braun, Russell T. McCutcheon|title=Guide to the study of religion|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wlNJQoZlGC4C&pg=PA260|year=2000|publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group|isbn=0304701769|page=260|chapter=Ritual}}</ref>

==Religious and civil (secular) ceremonies==
According to [[Dally Messenger III|Dally Messenger]] and [[Alain de Botton]], in most Western countries the values and ideals articulated in both church and [[Civil ceremony|civil ceremonies]] are generally similar. The difference is in what Messenger calls the "supernatural infrastructure" or de Botton the "implausible supernatural element".<ref name="messenger">Messenger, Dally; ''Murphy's Law and the Pursuit of Happiness: a History of the Civil Celebrant Movement'', Spectrum Publications, Melbourne (Australia), 2012 {{ISBN|978-0-86786-169-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|last1=Kelly|first1=Fran|title=Radio Interview with Alain de Botton|work=RN Breakfast|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|via=Podcast|year=2012}}</ref>

Most religions claim some extra advantage conferred by the deity, e.g., Roman Catholics believe that through the words of [[consecration]] in the [[Mass in the Catholic Church|mass]] ceremony, God himself becomes [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|actually present]] on the altar.

Both religious and civil ceremonies share the powerful psychological, social and cultural influences which all ceremony seeks to attain. The style of music played, words used, other components and the structure vary.

===Shared traditions===
[[File:Leaders welcoming boy into Mexico Scouting.jpg|thumb|Leaders welcome a boy into Scouting, March 2010, Mexico City, Mexico.]]As [[Edward Schillebeeckx]] writes about the [[Wedding|marriage ceremony]], there are a number of ancient traditional elements in both church and civil ceremonies in the western world. Key ceremonies date from the pre-Christian Roman and Greek times, and their practices have continued through the centuries. For example, from pre-Christian Roman times in the marriage ceremony, we inherit [[Groomsman|best men]] and [[Bridesmaid|bridesmaids]], processions, signing of the contract, exchange of [[Wedding ring|rings]] and the [[wedding cake]].<ref>Schillebeeckx, Edward; translated by N.D. Smith:; Secular Reality and Saving Mystery. Volumes 1 & 2, Sheed and Ward, London, 1963. Note: later versions have these ISBNs: {{ISBN|978-0722076644}} {{ISBN|0722076649}}</ref>

===Sharing non-supernatural content===
Writer and philosopher de Botton maintains [[Atheism|atheists]] should appropriate many of the useful insights, artistic treasures and symbolism inspired by religion. He argues that the secular world can also learn from the religions the importance of community and continuity.<ref>De Botton, Alain: ''[[iarchive:religionforathei00debo|Religion for Atheists: A Non-believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion]]'', 2013, Vintage Books, {{ISBN|978-0307476821}}</ref>  Messenger agrees, and points out that the success of [[Celebrant (Australia)|civil celebrants in Australia]] has been partly due to their espousing of these principles, both in theory and practice, since 1973.<ref>Messenger, Dally; Alain de Botton and Humanists, Australian Humanist Magazine, no. 106, Winter 2012, p. 10.</ref><ref name="ceremonies">Messenger III, Dally (1999), ''Ceremonies and Celebrations'', Hachette -Livre Australia (Sydney), {{ISBN|978-0-7336-2317-2}}</ref>

==History of secular ceremony==
[[File:Lionel Murphy 1970.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Senator Lionel Murphy, founder of the civil celebrant movement in Australia, which has now spread to the rest of the Western World]]
The main impetus to the development of quality civil ceremonies in the Western world was the foresight of the Australian statesman, senator and High court judge [[Lionel Murphy]]. In 1973, Australia's [[Celebrant (Australia)|civil celebrant]] program entrusted carefully selected individuals with the responsibility of providing non-church people with ceremonies of substance and dignity. This initiative to a great extent has now been largely adopted by New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and some states of the US.<ref name=messenger/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Messenger III |first1=Dally |date=July 13, 2009 |title=The Power of an Idea: The History of Celebrancy |url=http://www.collegeofcelebrancy.com.au/Articles/keynote_afcc09.html |access-date=12 January 2020 |publisher=International College of Celebrancy |archive-date=7 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307005330/http://www.collegeofcelebrancy.com.au/Articles/keynote_afcc09.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Purpose of secular ceremony==
According to [[Dally Messenger III]] secular ceremonies are "roadmap" influences which lead to an acceptable, ethical and dignified life. 
Ceremonies contribute to the unseen ingredients of psychological stability, a sense of identity, reassurances of life's purposes, and the personal sense of self-worth. Murphy considered that personal genuine ceremonies were central to a civilised, stable and happy society. Here he echoed the conviction of the mythologist [[Joseph Campbell]] who had maintained the strongly asserted generality that the level of civilised behaviour in a society is directly linked to the practice of ceremonies and [[Rite of passage|rites of passage]].<ref>Messenger III, Dally, We Had a Dream, in the Australian Humanist, no 121, Autumn 2016, published by the Australian Humanist Society, Canberra ACT</ref>

In addition, Messenger makes the following statements:

* A complex of good ceremonies raise the level of human happiness in society.
* Ceremonies assist humans to adjust to change.
* Ceremonies are signposts of the culture and indicate that such a culture has life-affirming substance.
* Ceremonies are an important means of expressing, reinforcing and transmitting values.
* Ceremonies are constructed from the visual and performing arts. In a chosen setting they are an important vehicle for telling stories, reciting poetry and prose, using symbolism, and performing music.
* Ceremonies, done well, leave lifelong lasting memories and therefore permanent good effects.
* The better a ceremony is done, the better its psychological, cultural, and social outcomes.<ref name=messenger/>

==The components of ceremony==
To be powerful and effective, such ceremonies, in the view of all the scholars in the field,<ref name=messenger/>{{rp|3}} had to have impact. This occurred when the ceremony was framed by the visual and performing arts. 
Great care had to be taken in creating and choosing the poetry, prose, stories, personal journeys, myths, silences, dance, music and song, shared meditations, choreography and symbolism which comprised a ceremony. 
To reinforce the psychological and cultural power of ceremony it should be enacted, as far as possible, in a beautiful interior and exterior place. Beauty is the essential core of ceremony, having always been part of "raising the spirit" and embedding the good in the memory.<ref name=messenger/>{{rp|3-8}}

Ceremonies, as they always had been, are historically the bridge between the visual and performing arts and the people. Murphy and his followers, and international practitioners such as David Oldfield of Washington DC understand that ceremonies are core expressions of the culture. Done well, they can assist in major [[decision-making]], bring [[emotional security]], strengthen [[Human bonding|bonds between people]], and communicate a sense of [[contentment]]. To quote David Oldfield:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oldfield |first1=David |title=Director |url=http://midwaycenter.com/ |website=Midway Centre |publisher=Midway Centre for Creative Imagination |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113004105/http://midwaycenter.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Memorial of Fallen Soldiers from the Yom Kippur War - Flickr - Israel Defense Forces.jpg|thumb|right|[[Israel Defense Forces]] Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. [[Benny Gantz]] salutes [[Yom Kippur War]] casualties at an official annual memorial service.]]<blockquote>''Rituals and ceremonies are an essential and basic means''
''for human beings to give themselves and others''

''the necessary messages''

''which enable the individual to stay human.''

''They communicate acceptance,''

''love, a sense of identity, esteem,''

''shared values and beliefs''

''and shared memorable events.''

''Every ritual contains tender and sacred moments.''

''And in those moments of sensitivity''

''We are taken out of the normal flow of life,''

''And out of our routines.''

''We are then in an event''

''that is irreplaceable and sacred''.

''In ritual we participate in''

''something deep and significant.''

''They are moments which move our heart''

''And touch our spirit.''
<ref>Oldfield, David, ''The Journey: An experiential Rite of Passage for Modern Adolescents'', as a contributor in Mahdi, Louise Carus (Editor), ''Crossroads: The Quest for Contemporary Rites of Passage'', Open Court Publishing, 1996, Chicago p145ff {{ISBN|0 8126 9190 3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ol9ypL99JQC| title=Crossroads: The Quest for Contemporary Rites of Passage| isbn=9780812691900| last1=Mahdi| first1=Louise Carus| last2=Christopher| first2=Nancy Geyer| last3=Meade| first3=Michael| year=1996| access-date=2020-09-06| archive-date=2023-07-02| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702122023/https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ol9ypL99JQC| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Fierst, Gerald, ''The Heart of the Wedding'', Parkhurst Brothers, Chicago, 2011, {{ISBN|978-1-935166-22-1}} p.76ff</ref></blockquote>

==Qualities of a celebrant==
Lionel Murphy also knew that the superficial, the unaware, were not the right persons to bring this about. The [[Celebrant (Australia)|civil celebrant]] needs to have a rich skill-set and knowledge base. Murphy is on the record as asserting that the civil celebrant needed to have a "feel" for ceremony and be professional, knowledgeable, educated, creative, imaginative, inspired, well presented, idealistic, and well practised.

The civil celebrant should be a person inspired to improve lives at a deep and lasting level. For this reason they must be carefully chosen. The ideal is that they be educated in the humanities and trained to expertly co-create, creatively write and perform ceremonies.<ref name=ceremonies/>{{rp|16ff}}

==Ceremonial occasions==
[[File:Gogo tribe at ceremonial of.jpg|thumb|right|Gogo tribe ladies from Manyoni Tanzania waiting to perform traditional dance during the ceremony of priest Joseph Makasi ordination]]
* [[Marriage]], or a [[wedding]], is the flagship ceremony of every culture.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Messenger |first1=Dally |title=Weddings |url=http://www.marriagecelebrant.com/Pages_2016/Weddings.html |website=www.marriagecelebrant.com |publisher=International College of Celebrancy |access-date=22 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131064803/http://www.marriagecelebrant.com/Pages_2016/Weddings.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Almost as important is the [[funeral]] or [[burial ceremony]].
''<blockquote>The funeral ritual, too, is a public, traditional and symbolic means of expressing our beliefs, thoughts and feelings about the death of someone loved.  Rich in history and rife with symbolism, the funeral ceremony helps us acknowledge the reality of the death, gives testimony to the life of the deceased, encourages the expression of grief in a way consistent with the culture's values, provides support to mourners, allows for the embracing of faith and beliefs about life and death, and offers continuity and hope for the living.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wolfelt |first1=Alan |title=Why is the funeral ritual important? |url=https://www.centerforloss.com/2016/12/funeral-ritual-important/ |website=centerforloss.com |date=16 December 2016 |publisher=Center for Loss and Life Transition |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131064755/https://www.centerforloss.com/2016/12/funeral-ritual-important/ |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>''
* [[childbirth|Birth]], i.e. a [[naming ceremony]]
''<blockquote>Naming Ceremonies existed in human culture long before Christianity or any of the major religions came on the scene. Every community has a ceremony to welcome a new child into the world, to give that child recognition, and to celebrate the birth of new life.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hurley |first1=Kathleen |title=Giving Your child a Name |url=http://www.marriagecelebrant.com/Pages_2016/naming_ceremony.html |website=Marriage Celebrant |publisher=International College of Celebrancy |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131064753/http://www.marriagecelebrant.com/Pages_2016/naming_ceremony.html |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>''
* [[Baptism|Baptism or christening]] ceremony
* [[Initiation]] (college [[orientation week]])
* [[Puberty]]
* Social [[adulthood]] ([[Bar Mitzvah|Bar (or Bat) Mitzvah]]), [[coming of age]] ceremonies
* [[Graduation]]
* [[award ceremony|Award ceremonies]]
* [[Retirement]]
* [[Death]] ([[Day of the Dead]])
* 
* [[spirituality|Spiritual]] ([[baptism]], [[Communion (Christian)|communion]])
* [[Grand opening]]
* [[Aging]][[File:AnnapolisGraduation.jpg|thumb|right|Newly commissioned [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] celebrate their new positions by throwing their midshipmen covers into the air as part of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 2005 graduation and commissioning ceremony.]]

==Celebration of events==
Other, society-wide ceremonies may mark annual or seasonal or recurrent events such as:

* Vernal [[equinox]], [[winter solstice]] and other annual astronomical positions
* Weekly [[Sabbath in Christianity|Sabbath]] day
* [[Inauguration]] of an elected office-holder
* Occasions in a [[liturgical year]] or "feasts" in a [[calendar of saints]]
* Opening and closing of a sports event, such as the [[Olympic Games ceremony|Olympic Games]]

Other ceremonies underscore the importance of non-regular special occasions, such as:

* [[Coronation]] of a [[monarch]]
* Victory in [[battle]]

In some Asian cultures, ceremonies also play an important social role, for example the [[tea ceremony]].

==Process==
[[File:Arrival Ceremony - The Official State Visit of France (26832274057).jpg|thumb|[[State visits to the United States|A state arrival ceremony in the United States]].]]
Ceremonies may have a physical display or [[theatre|theatrical]] component: [[dance]], a [[procession]], the laying on of hands. A declaratory verbal pronouncement may explain or cap the occasion, for instance:

* I now pronounce you husband and wife.
* I swear to serve and defend the nation ...
* I declare open the games of ...
* I/We dedicate this ...  ... to ...

Both physical and verbal components of a ceremony may become part of a [[liturgy]].

==See also==
{{div col}}
* {{anli|Religion for Atheists|''Religion for Atheists: A non-believer's guide to the uses of religion''}} which argues that while supernatural claims made by religion are false, some aspects of religion are still useful and can be applied in secular life and society. 
* {{anli|Builders' rites}}
* {{anli|Ceremonial dance}}
* {{anli|Ceremonial magic}}
* {{anli|Ceremonial weapon}}
* {{anli|Cornerstone}}
* {{anli|Event planning}}
* {{anli|Gift}}
* {{anli|Groundbreaking}}
* {{anli|Human condition}}
* {{anli|Liturgy}}
* {{anli|Opening ceremony}}
* {{anli|Ribbon cutting ceremony}}
* {{anli|Rite of passage}}
* {{anli|Tjurunga}}
* {{anli|Topping out}}
* {{anli|Worship}}
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{wiktionary}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Ceremonies}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ceremonies| ]]
[[Category:Anthropology]]
[[Category:Social events]]