Why is ritual so important? We don’t necessarily acknowledge its importance but it is vital. We ritualise so much that matters. When we lose someone whose departure from our daily lives impacts who we are, we create rituals to enable moments when we feel their presence. We participate in religious rituals that comfort us about who we are and how everything works (or should work).
There are so many rituals over the Easter weekend. If we wish, we can celebrate Holy Thursday and the Last Supper etc, Good Friday and the harrowing crucifixion, Easter (either vigil or Sunday) and all the symbolism of new life and hope. It’s a big and ritualised weekend. My experience in Australia, however, is that people may attend a service but the focus tends to be on time with family. The secular and the religious only partly align. Easter is all about chocolate in Australia, and time with family, camping is huge this weekend.
Easter is simply the most sacred time in the Christian calendar. It is not simply chocolate! There are so many aspects that can be reflected on at various points of life, it’s a dynamic celebration that changes and shifts throughout life. I have certainly found different elements at various stages. Ultimately, its about that amazing sacrifice, that great gift of love, that is unfathomable, incomprehensible and without measure.
I ritualise a few things. In particular, I ritualise things to do with my mum, whom I miss every day. This helps me navigate the loss. Rituals are healing in a way. They also prompt resilience and growth. We need rituals today. There is so much in society that needs resilience and growth through adversity. Too often, we rescue and avoid consequence rather than learning how to work through it. Rituals help when we hit the bottom – but then we need the freedom and reality to hit that rock. How else do we rebuild?
The Female Theologian 