Ritual

thumb|upright=1.2|American jazz singer and songwriter Billie Holiday in New York City in 1947 A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usually made of sections that are repeated or performed with variation later. A song without instruments is said to be a cappella.

mental disorder involving obsessions and compulsions

thumb|A Javanese culture|Javanese ritual dance dedicated to the goddess of [[rice and fertility, Dewi Sri]]

Mīmāṁsā (Sanskrit: मीमांसा; IAST: Mīmāṁsā) is a Sanskrit word that means "reflection" or "critical investigation" and thus refers to a tradition of contemplation which reflected on the meanings of certain Vedic texts. This tradition is also known as Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā because of its focus on the earlier (pūrva) Vedic texts dealing with ritual actions, and similarly as Karma-Mīmāṁsā due to its focus on ritual action (karma). It is one of six Vedic "affirming" (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. This particular school is known for its philosophical theories on the nature of Dharma, based on hermene

Mysophobia (from Ancient Greek μύσος (músos), meaning "pollution", and φόβος (phóbos), meaning "fear"), also known as verminophobia, germophobia, germaphobia, bacillophobia and bacteriophobia, is a pathological fear of contamination and germs. It is classified as a type of specific phobia, meaning it is evaluated and diagnosed based on the experience of high levels of fear and anxiety beyond what is reasonable when exposed to or in anticipation of exposure to stimuli related to the particular concept (in this case germs or contamination). William A. Hammond first coined the term in 1879 when d

male not related by birth who has sworn loyalty

thumb|right|The Kwakwaka'wakw continue the practice of potlatch. Illustrated here is ''Wawadit'la'' in Thunderbird Park, Victoria, B.C., a big house built by Chief [[Mungo Martin in 1953. Wealthy, prominent hosts would have a Big House specifically for potlatching and for housing guests.]]

thumb|upright=1.2|The Bull-Leaping Fresco from the Great Palace at [[Knossos, Crete]] thumb|upright=1.2|The bull-leaper, an ivory [[figurine from the palace of Knossos, Crete. The only complete surviving figure of a larger arrangement of figures. This is the earliest three dimensional representation of the bull leap. It is assumed that thin gold pins were used to suspend the figure over a bull.]]

Vedic era study of ritual procedures and ceremonies, one of six Vedangas practiced by Brahmins

alt=9–10-year-old boys of the Yao tribe in Malawi participating in circumcision and initiation rites.|thumb|Initiation ritual of boys in Malawi. The ritual marks the passage from child to adult male, a liminal stage in the context of their lives.

Jesa (, ) is a ceremony commonly practiced in Korea. Jesa functions as a memorial to the ancestors of the participants. Jesa are usually held on the anniversary of the ancestor's death. The majority of Catholics, Buddhists and nonbelievers practice ancestral rites, although Protestants do not.

removal of flesh prior to burial

thumb|Relief of ancient Indian Buddhists (monks at left, a lay couple at right, statues behind) circumambulating a stupa in a [[chaitya temple]]

In the study of religion, orthopraxy is correct conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace. Orthopraxy is in contrast with orthodoxy, which emphasizes correct belief. The word is a neoclassical compound— () meaning 'right practice'.

Ritualization refers to the process by which a sequence of non-communicating actions or an event is invested with cultural, social or religious significance. This definition emphasizes the transformation of everyday actions into rituals that carry deeper meaning within a cultural or religious context. Rituals are symbolic, repetitive, and often prescribed activities that hold religious or cultural significance for a certain group of people. They serve various purposes: promoting social solidarity by expressing shared values, facilitating the transmission of cultural knowledge and regulating em

A paranymph is a ceremonial assistant or coach in a ceremony. In ancient Greek weddings, the bride and bridegroom were attended by paranymphs and, from this use, it has been generalized to refer to attendants of doctoral students, best men and bridesmaids in weddings and the like. It can refer specifically to the friend of a bridegroom tasked with accompanying him in a chariot to fetch the bride home.

attitude of deep respect tinged with awe

Korean worship

Chinese ritual vessel

American academic (1931-2010)

thumb|Pas-ta'ai ceremonies at Nanzhuang, Miaoli, Taiwan thumb|Pas-ta'ai ceremonies at Wufeng, Hsinchu, Taiwan

emphasis on the rituals and liturgical ceremony of the church

recognised group of classical scholars, mostly in Cambridge, England

two central components of religious practice

Indian science of dialectics, logic and reasoning

sacred ceremony or liturgical tradition in Christianity