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Rite

A rite is a formal, ceremonial act or series of acts performed in accordance with established cultural, social, or religious norms, often involving symbolic gestures, words, and objects to express beliefs, mark transitions, or reinforce communal bonds.^[1] In anthropological and religious studies, rites are typically distinguished by their performative nature, occurring in designated sacred or communal spaces and following a liturgical order that emphasizes repetition and tradition.^[1] They are inherently social phenomena, learned and shared across groups to foster identity and solidarity, even when enacted individually.^[1] Rites serve multiple functions, including the affirmation of social structures, the processing of life changes, and the pursuit of healing or renewal within communities.^[1] Anthropologists view them as cultural universals that bridge the mundane and the sacred, enabling participants to navigate uncertainty and connect with supernatural or collective forces.^[1] For instance, they often embody beliefs about the interplay between mental and material existences, such as influencing spiritual entities through physical actions.^[2] Key types of rites include rites of passage, which structure transitions between life stages through phases of separation, liminality, and reintegration, as theorized by Arnold van Gennep in 1909; rites of intensification, which strengthen group cohesion during crises or routines, like daily prayers; and rites of affliction, aimed at resolving personal or communal harms through exorcism or healing practices.^[1] These categories highlight rites' role in both individual transformation and societal stability, with examples spanning cultures, such as the Navajo Kinaaldá puberty ceremony or Islamic salat prayers.^[1]

Core Concepts

Definition and Etymology

The word "rite" entered the English language in the early 14th century, borrowed from Old French rite, which itself derived from Latin ritus, signifying "custom," "usage," or "formal procedure," especially in religious contexts.^[3] This Latin term emphasized established observances, possibly tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root re- meaning "to reason" or "to count," implying careful observation and order in practice.^[3] At its core, a rite is a prescribed or customary act, typically symbolic and formalized, enacted within religious, social, or cultural settings to signify transitions, summon spiritual forces, or uphold communal norms.^[4] Scholars in religious studies describe it as a repeatable symbolic action engaging the sacred, such as prayers or ceremonial gestures, that structures human interaction with the divine or collective identity.^[5] Rites are distinguished from rituals in that the former denote specific, structured ceremonies or singular events, while the latter refer to broader, often repetitive sequences of actions or practices that may encompass multiple rites as building blocks.^[6] In historical usage, ancient texts illustrate this through Roman religious practices, where ritus specifically meant the proper, tradition-bound performance of ceremonies, involving precise prayers and gestures to maintain harmony with the gods, as noted in works by authors like Cicero and the grammarian Festus.^[7]

Characteristics and Functions

Rites are characterized by their use of symbolism, where actions, words, and objects convey deeper cultural meanings and values, often representing abstract concepts such as unity or transformation.^[8]^[9] They typically involve repetition, with sequences of activities performed in a fixed order to reinforce continuity and familiarity within a group.^[10] Communal participation is a core feature, fostering a sense of shared experience and belonging among participants through collective engagement.^[8] Additionally, rites employ specific gestures, spoken words, and material objects—such as ritual implements or attire—to structure the proceedings and embody prescribed meanings.^[9] In terms of functions, rites promote social cohesion by integrating individuals into a group and strengthening bonds through shared practices that affirm collective norms.^[11] They facilitate identity formation by reinforcing personal and group affiliations, allowing participants to enact and solidify their roles within social structures.^[12] Psychologically, rites provide reassurance by offering a sense of order and reducing anxiety through predictable, meaningful actions that resolve tensions and enhance emotional stability.^[11] Furthermore, they aid in transition facilitation, guiding individuals or groups through changes by marking shifts from one state to another.^[13] From an anthropological perspective, Arnold van Gennep's framework outlines rites as progressing through three phases: separation, where participants detach from a prior state; transition, a liminal period of ambiguity; and incorporation, reintegration into a new status.^[13] This model serves as a general structure applicable to various rites, highlighting their role in navigating boundaries and transformations across cultures.^[13] Rites differ from informal customs primarily through their emphasis on formality and prescription, involving rigidly structured, rule-governed sequences that distinguish them from habitual or spontaneous behaviors.^[11] While customs may evolve organically, rites adhere to codified traditions, often performed by designated participants in delimited settings to ensure symbolic efficacy.^[10] This prescribed nature underscores their intentional design to mediate social and psychological dynamics.^[11]

Religious and Liturgical Rites

In Abrahamic Traditions

In Abrahamic traditions, formalized rites serve as expressions of faith, covenantal relationship with the divine, and communal obedience, grounded in scriptural mandates from the Torah, New Testament, and Quran. These rituals emphasize monotheism and the believer's submission to God's will through prescribed acts that mark life stages, foster community, and commemorate historical redemptions. In Judaism, key rites derive directly from Torah commandments, reinforcing the covenant established with Abraham and the Israelites. Circumcision, known as brit milah, is mandated in Genesis 17:10-12 as an eternal sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, performed on the eighth day after a male child's birth by a trained mohel, overriding even the Sabbath observance to underscore its primacy.^[14] The bar mitzvah for boys at age 13 and bat mitzvah for girls at age 12 or 13 mark the transition to religious adulthood, where individuals assume personal responsibility for observing mitzvot (commandments), often involving Torah reading, leading prayers, and delivering a divrei Torah (interpretive speech) during synagogue services.^[15] The Passover seder, rooted in Exodus 12:1-20 and 13:8, is a ritual meal that retells the Exodus from Egypt, featuring symbolic foods like matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs to evoke slavery and redemption, accompanied by four cups of wine and reclining postures to affirm freedom, fulfilling the commandment to transmit the story across generations.^[16] Christianity centers its rites on sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ, which convey divine grace and vary in number and interpretation across denominations, all tracing to New Testament foundations. Baptism, commanded in Matthew 28:19, initiates believers into the Church by cleansing original sin and incorporating them into Christ's body through water and the invocation of the Trinity, essential for salvation as described in John 3:5.^[17] The Eucharist, established at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25), commemorates Christ's sacrifice with bread and wine as his real body and blood, serving as the pinnacle of worship in Catholic Mass where transubstantiation occurs, whereas Protestant traditions like Lutheranism view it as a means of grace with Christ's presence "in, with, and under" the elements, rejecting merit-based efficacy and limiting sacraments to baptism and the Lord's Supper as divine gifts rather than sevenfold ordinances.^[17] In Islam, the Five Pillars form the core obligatory rites that structure daily life and devotion, as outlined in the Quran and Hadith, promoting submission (islam) to Allah. Salah, the five daily prayers, requires ritual purification through wudu—washing the face, hands, arms, head, and feet—to achieve spiritual cleanliness before facing Mecca in prescribed postures and recitations, performed at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night.^[18] Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca mandated once in a lifetime for those able (Quran 3:97), involves circumambulating the Kaaba, standing at Arafat, and symbolic acts like stoning the devil, all while in ihram (pilgrimage garb) to emphasize equality and obedience.^[18] These pillars, alongside shahada (faith declaration), zakat (almsgiving), and sawm (Ramadan fasting), bind the ummah (community) in unified worship. Across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, shared ritual elements highlight a monotheistic focus on covenant and obedience, such as daily prayers invoking divine remembrance—Sabbath services in Judaism, the Lord's Prayer in Christianity, and salah in Islam—and communal gatherings that renew commitment to God's laws, like Torah readings, Eucharistic meals, and Jumu'ah prayers, all underscoring submission through structured acts of faith.^[19]

In Eastern and Indigenous Traditions

In Hinduism, puja serves as a central worship rite involving offerings, prayers, and rituals to deities, often performed daily in homes or temples to foster devotion and spiritual connection.^[20] These practices emphasize personal and communal interaction with the divine, aligning with dharma—the ethical duties guiding righteous living. Life-cycle samskaras, numbering sixteen in traditional Vedic texts, mark key transitions such as birth, initiation (upanayana), marriage (vivaha), and cremation (antyesti), purifying the individual and preparing them for the cycle of samsara, or reincarnation.^[21]^[22] For instance, the marriage samskara invokes blessings for progeny and household harmony, while cremation rites facilitate the soul's departure toward rebirth, reinforcing the karmic framework of dharma.^[23] Buddhist rites similarly prioritize spiritual progression, with ordination (pabbajja and upasampada) ceremonies initiating novices into monastic life through vows, shaving of the head, and receiving robes, symbolizing renunciation and commitment to the Eightfold Path.^[24] Meditation rituals, such as vipassana or samatha practices, form ongoing rites of introspection to cultivate mindfulness and insight into impermanence (anicca), aiding the pursuit of enlightenment (nirvana). Vesak, commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana, involves temple processions, lantern releases, and communal meditations worldwide, particularly in Theravada traditions, to honor these milestones and reflect on the transient nature of existence.^[25] These rites underscore Buddhism's focus on breaking free from samsara through ethical conduct and wisdom, distinct from yet parallel to Hindu emphases on dharma.^[26] Among indigenous traditions, Native American vision quests exemplify rites of personal revelation, particularly among Plains tribes like the Teton Sioux, where adolescents or warriors fast and isolate in sacred sites for days to seek guidance from spirits, often receiving visions that define their life roles and guardian entities.^[27] In African indigenous practices, ancestral veneration rites involve libations, sacrifices, and invocations to honor the deceased as intermediaries between the living and the divine, ensuring community protection and moral continuity, as seen in rituals where offerings sustain ancestral spirits.^[28] Australian Aboriginal corroboree ceremonies integrate dance, song, and storytelling in nighttime gatherings to connect with Dreamtime ancestors, reenacting creation stories and reinforcing totemic laws that govern social and environmental relations.^[29]^[30] Across these Eastern and indigenous traditions, common themes emerge, including harmony with the cosmos through nature-aligned rituals that view the universe as interconnected and cyclical, rather than linear. Ancestor reverence prevails as a core practice, treating forebears as ongoing spiritual presences that guide and sustain the community via offerings and commemorations. Oral transmission dominates, with knowledge passed through stories, songs, and performances, preserving sacred lore without reliance on written texts and emphasizing lived experience over doctrinal rigidity.^[31]^[32]

Rites of Passage

Rites of passage are ceremonial events that mark significant transitions in an individual's life, facilitating the shift from one social status or role to another. Anthropologist Arnold van Gennep first systematized these rituals in his seminal 1909 work, identifying a universal three-phase structure observed across diverse cultures: the preliminal phase of separation, where the individual detaches from their prior identity; the liminal phase of transition, characterized by ambiguity and transformation; and the postliminal phase of incorporation, where the new status is affirmed and integrated into society. This model applies to key life events such as birth, which separates the newborn from the prenatal state and incorporates them into the family; puberty rituals that detach adolescents from childhood and initiate them into adult responsibilities; marriage ceremonies that transition individuals from single to partnered status; and death rites that sever the deceased from the living community while honoring their legacy. In contemporary secular contexts, rites of passage have adapted to non-religious frameworks, emphasizing personal achievement and social recognition. Graduation ceremonies, for instance, embody van Gennep's phases through cap-and-gown separation from student life, commencement speeches during the liminal reflection on growth, and diploma conferral as incorporation into professional adulthood.^[33] Military boot camps similarly structure recruits' transformation, with initial separation from civilian norms, intense liminal training that fosters discipline and camaraderie, and graduation rites that incorporate them as service members.^[34] Retirement parties serve as modern endpoints, detaching individuals from career roles via farewell events, navigating the transitional uncertainty of post-work life, and celebrating incorporation into elder status with tributes and gifts.^[35] These rituals play crucial psychological roles in identity development and stress management during upheaval. By providing structured symbolism, rites of passage help individuals process ambiguity, reduce anxiety associated with change, and build resilience through communal validation, thereby supporting the formation of a coherent self-concept. Empirical studies indicate that such ceremonies mitigate emotional distress by regulating uncertainty and enhancing social bonds, which are essential for adapting to new life stages.^[36] Global variations highlight cultural specificity within van Gennep's framework. In Japan, the seijin shiki ceremony, held annually on the second Monday of January, celebrates individuals turning 20 by separating youth from adolescence through formal attire and speeches, transitioning them via vows of responsibility, and incorporating them as adults with community blessings.^[37] In contrast, the Latin American quinceañera marks a girl's 15th birthday as her passage to womanhood, featuring a church service for separation from childhood, a symbolic shoe change during the liminal waltz, and a reception that affirms her mature social role.^[38]

Communal and Seasonal Rites

Communal and seasonal rites involve collective ceremonies synchronized with natural cycles, calendars, or shared societal milestones, serving to unite participants around themes of gratitude, renewal, and interdependence. Harvest festivals exemplify this, as seen in Thanksgiving, a North American tradition rooted in 17th-century colonial gatherings that evolved into a national holiday emphasizing communal feasting, reflection on abundance, and expressions of thanks for the earth's bounty.^[39] This rite reinforces social ties through shared meals and public observances, adapting early agrarian practices to foster national unity.^[40] Similarly, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival marks the autumn harvest with family and community gatherings for moon viewing, lantern displays, and consumption of mooncakes, symbolizing gratitude for seasonal renewal and harmonious relationships.^[41] These events highlight how seasonal rites adapt environmental rhythms to promote emotional and cultural rejuvenation.^[42] Beyond seasonal harvests, communal rites manifest in civic and cultural gatherings that build group cohesion, such as parades, national holidays, and indigenous assemblies. Independence Day celebrations in the United States, for example, feature public parades, fireworks, and communal barbecues that commemorate historical independence while cultivating a sense of shared patriotism and belonging among diverse populations. These events transform historical narratives into living expressions of community solidarity.^[43] In many indigenous traditions, tribal gatherings focused on oral storytelling serve as rites that transmit ancestral knowledge, moral lessons, and ecological wisdom, often held seasonally to align with migration or resource cycles.^[44] Such assemblies, common among Native American groups, emphasize collective narration to preserve heritage and reinforce interpersonal connections.^[45] From a sociological perspective, these rites fulfill essential functions by strengthening social bonds, safeguarding cultural traditions, and enabling adaptation to environmental shifts. Rituals, whether secular or traditional, enhance interpersonal trust and emotional well-being, with studies showing that participation in group ceremonies like festivals increases perceived social connectedness by promoting synchronized behaviors and shared positive experiences.^[46] They preserve traditions by ritualizing collective memory, as theorized in analyses of public holidays that recommit communities to core values amid societal changes.^[47] Additionally, these practices allow groups to harmonize with ecological cycles, such as preparing for scarcity or celebrating plenty, thereby supporting resilience in varying climates.^[48] Historically rooted in agrarian societies where they aligned with planting and reaping cycles, communal and seasonal rites have evolved into urban forms that blend tradition with contemporary needs, including eco-focused adaptations in sustainability efforts. In 19th- and early 20th-century industrial cities, civic rituals like jubilee parades transitioned from rural harvest processions to elaborate urban spectacles, incorporating diverse participants to sustain community engagement in growing populations.^[49] Today, modern eco-rites, such as annual Earth Day gatherings involving community cleanups and tree-planting ceremonies, repurpose seasonal motifs to address environmental challenges, fostering collective action for sustainability and planetary renewal.^[50] These developments illustrate rites' flexibility in maintaining relevance across agrarian-to-urban shifts while promoting ecological awareness.^[51]

Rites in Arts and Media

Performing Arts

In performing arts, rites serve as structural and thematic frameworks in music, dance, and theater, often evoking primal communal experiences through rhythmic intensity, symbolic actions, and audience immersion. These elements transform performances into simulated ceremonies that explore human rituals, blending historical inspirations with innovative expressions to challenge conventional spectatorship. Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (1913), a ballet composed for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky and scenario by Stravinsky and Nicholas Roerich, depicts a pagan sacrificial rite in ancient Russia, presenting a succession of ceremonies rather than a linear narrative, culminating in the ritual dance and sacrifice of a chosen maiden to herald spring. The work's scenario draws from Slavic folklore, emphasizing evocations of ancestors and communal dances that embody the raw force of seasonal renewal. Its premiere on May 29, 1913, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, conducted by Pierre Monteux, sparked a notorious riot among the audience, with shouts and disturbances reflecting the music's dissonant rhythms and angular choreography, which shocked contemporary sensibilities. This event marked a watershed in modernism, as the ballet's irregular meters, ostinati, and octatonic scales revolutionized orchestral and choreographic conventions, influencing subsequent avant-garde works by prioritizing rhythmic drive over melodic flow and establishing a model for music's autonomy from narrative.^[52]^[53]^[54] Beyond Stravinsky, rite-like elements appear in adaptations of traditional forms, such as African drum ceremonies integrated into contemporary dance. Groups like Step Afrika! in their production Drumfolk (premiered 2020) trace percussive traditions from West African griot drumming and ring shouts—historical rituals involving communal rhythms to invoke spirits or mark transitions—to modern African American stepping, using body percussion and drums to simulate ceremonial gatherings that foster cultural continuity and audience engagement.^[55]^[56]^[57] Similarly, Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (1876), a tetralogy of operas, incorporates operatic rituals drawn from Norse mythology, such as the gods' feasts in Das Rheingold and the Valkyries' heroic processions in Die Walküre, enacted through leitmotifs and continuous music to ritualize themes of power, betrayal, and cosmic renewal.^[58] In these works, rites symbolize chaos through disruptive sonic and kinetic forces, as in The Rite of Spring's polyrhythms evoking primal disorder; renewal via cyclical motifs of birth and sacrifice; and cultural clash in hybrid forms that juxtapose indigenous traditions with Western modernism, highlighting tensions between ancient collectivity and individual expression.^[59] Developments in 20th- and 21st-century experimental theater extend this by simulating rites through audience participation, blurring performer-spectator boundaries to recreate communal rituals. Pioneered by theorists like Richard Schechner, who viewed performances as ritualized actions akin to ceremonies, such works include immersive productions like Hotel Medea (2009) by Zecora Ura, where audiences navigate participatory sequences mimicking ancient Greek rites, assigning roles and guiding interactions to evoke trance-like immersion and collective catharsis. This approach revives ritual's transformative potential, adapting it to contemporary contexts like social critique or environmental simulations, as seen in site-specific events that incorporate rhythmic chants and group movements to foster shared efficacy.^[60]^[61]^[62]

Literature and Film

In literature and film, rites often serve as symbolic motifs that structure narratives around themes of transition, ordeal, and renewal, drawing on archetypal patterns to explore human experiences. These depictions frequently transform real-world rituals into plot devices, heightening dramatic stakes through formalized sequences that mirror psychological or societal shifts.^[63] Joseph Campbell's monomyth, outlined in his 1949 work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, frames the hero's journey as a universal narrative incorporating rite-like trials during the "initiation" phase, where protagonists undergo tests, confrontations, and symbolic deaths to achieve transformation. This structure, divided into separation, initiation, and return, parallels rites of passage by emphasizing liminal ordeals that propel character growth and resolve central conflicts.^[64]^[65] In folklore and fairy tales, such initiations appear as motifs of trial and rebirth, as seen in narratives like those collected by the Brothers Grimm, where young protagonists endure enchanted forests or monstrous encounters to gain maturity and agency, reflecting communal storytelling traditions that encode cultural values of endurance and reintegration.^[66] Films have similarly employed rites to amplify tension and visual spectacle. William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973), adapted from William Peter Blatty's novel, portrays the Catholic rite of exorcism as a climactic confrontation between faith and possession, with priests performing sanctioned rituals involving prayers, holy water, and relics to expel a demon from a young girl, underscoring the rite's role in restoring spiritual order amid horror.^[67] Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (2006) depicts a fictionalized version of indigenous Mayan rites through scenes of human sacrifice atop pyramids—though criticized by experts for historical inaccuracies, such as anachronistic methods more akin to Aztec practices—where captives face ritual preparation and execution to appease deities, using these elements to propel a survival chase that critiques societal collapse while showcasing the rites' ceremonial intensity.^[68]^[69] Narratively, rites function to build suspense via ritualistic buildup, where procedural elements like incantations or preparations create anticipation before a pivotal breach or completion. They also probe taboos by staging forbidden acts—such as desecration or violation—within sacred frameworks, forcing characters and audiences to confront moral boundaries. Ultimately, these motifs facilitate transformation, symbolizing personal or collective evolution through the rite's resolution, often aligning with liminal phases that disrupt normalcy for profound change.^[70]^[63] Contemporary speculative fiction continues this tradition, integrating rites into dystopian frameworks to critique power structures. Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games (2008) trilogy reimagines coming-of-age as a brutal, state-enforced rite, with the annual arena battles serving as a televised initiation where tributes like Katniss Everdeen endure trials of combat and alliance, evolving from reluctant participant to revolutionary symbol and highlighting themes of sacrifice and resistance in a stratified society.^[71]^[72] More recently, as of 2025, The Ritual, directed by David Midell and starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens, portrays the Catholic rite of exorcism based on the true story of Emma Schmidt, emphasizing the procedural and spiritual confrontations in a modern context.^[73]

Other Uses

Commercial and Organizational

Rite Aid, one of the largest pharmacy chains in the United States, was founded in 1962 by Alex Grass in Scranton, Pennsylvania, under the name Thrift D Discount Center, initially focusing on health and beauty products. The company expanded rapidly through acquisitions, including the 2007 acquisition of 1,854 Brooks and Eckerd pharmacies, growing to operate more than 5,000 locations at its peak and becoming the third-largest drugstore chain behind CVS and Walgreens. In 2015, Rite Aid agreed to a $17.2 billion merger with Walgreens Boots Alliance, but regulatory hurdles led to a revised 2017 deal where Walgreens acquired 1,932 Rite Aid stores, three distribution centers, and inventory for $4.37 billion, allowing Rite Aid to retain a smaller footprint. Facing mounting debt exceeding $4 billion, competition from larger rivals, and opioid-related lawsuits, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023; it filed again in May 2025 and ultimately liquidated all assets, closing its remaining stores nationwide by October 2025 after 63 years in operation.^[74]^[75]^[76]^[77] Rite Aid's role in the U.S. retail pharmacy sector provided widespread access to prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and health services in underserved communities, but its practices during the opioid crisis drew significant scrutiny. The company was accused of ignoring red flags and dispensing hundreds of thousands of unnecessary opioids, contributing to the epidemic; in 2022, it reached a $30 million settlement with 45 states and the District of Columbia over these allegations. Rite Aid also settled False Claims Act allegations for $7.5 million in 2024 related to improper controlled substance handling. The chain's bankruptcy and closures have exacerbated "pharmacy deserts," areas with limited access to pharmacies, particularly affecting low-income and rural populations reliant on chains like Rite Aid for affordable healthcare essentials.^[78]^[79] Beyond Rite Aid, "Rite" appears in various commercial brands focused on consumer goods. Rite Brands, a Canadian manufacturer established in Windsor, Ontario, around 2005, specializes in janitorial, foodservice, and personal care products, including disposable gloves, sanitizers, and cleaning supplies that support hygiene practices in commercial and household settings. In Nigeria, Rite Foods Limited, founded in 2007, has grown into a leading food and beverage company, producing popular brands such as Bigi carbonated soft drinks, Sosa fruit drinks, Fearless energy drinks, and Bigi table water, emphasizing local production with global standards to serve the domestic market.^[80]^[81]^[82] In organizational contexts, the concept of a "rite" extends to structured business rituals that mark transitions and foster cohesion, such as corporate onboarding ceremonies designed as modern rites of passage. These rituals, often involving team welcomes, symbolic gestures like office tours or shared meals, help new employees separate from prior roles, navigate the liminal integration phase, and incorporate into the company culture, enhancing retention and identity formation. Research on workplace rituals highlights their role in building trust and shared experiences, with examples including human tunnels for new hires at companies like Airbnb or celebratory laps in tech firms to signify milestones.^[83]^[84]

Technical and Miscellaneous

Rite Publishing is an independent role-playing game publisher founded in 2008 by Steven D. Russell, focusing primarily on supplements for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game system, including adventures, character options, and campaign settings. The company has released over 350 digital products, often in PDF format, supporting systems like Arcana Evolved and 13th Age alongside Pathfinder, with an emphasis on third-party content for open gaming licenses. Following Russell's death in 2016, the imprint continued operations, maintaining a catalog that aids game masters and players in expanding fantasy role-playing experiences.^[85]^[86]^[87] In technical contexts, "RITE" serves as an acronym for Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation, a usability engineering method applied in software development to conduct quick cycles of user testing, design iteration, and validation. This protocol enables development teams to rapidly prototype and refine user interfaces, reducing risks and accelerating product improvements by prioritizing high-impact changes based on immediate feedback. For instance, in computing simulations, similar iterative approaches underpin tools for protocol translation and system interoperability, as developed by firms like Rite-Solutions, which specializes in engineering software for defense and training applications.^[88]^[89] Rite-Solutions, established in 2000, extends these technical applications into virtual reality simulations for professional training, incorporating AI elements to create adaptive, scenario-based environments that simulate real-world protocols in fields such as maritime operations and systems engineering. These AI-driven simulations function as structured "rites" or sequential training modules, providing immersive, repeatable experiences to build skills without physical risks, as demonstrated in projects like virtual bridge trainers for naval personnel.^[90]^[91] As a miscellaneous usage, "Rite" functions as a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English "wyrhta," denoting a worker or craftsman, with historical records appearing in 19th-century censuses across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Scotland. The name's distribution peaked in the U.S. during the late 1800s, reflecting migration patterns among artisan families.^[92]^[93]

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[PDF] Australian Aboriginal Oral Traditions - Margaret Clunies Ross 1 ...
Australian Aboriginal oral traditions include songs and dances by bards, passed between tribes, and performances like corroborees, which combine song, dance, ...
[30]
[PDF] Wanji-wanjiin the Pintupi region of Central Australia - ScholarSpace
Various ethnographers have used the term 'travelling' plus either 'corroboree', 'ceremony',. 'song', 'ritual', or 'business' to refer to Aboriginal traditions ...
[31]
(PDF) • “Indigenous Religious Traditions of the World”, Chapter 1 In ...
Overview of the principal features found in indigenous religious or spiritual traditions throughout the world, including cosmogonies, cosmologies, relations ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[32]
Indigenous religions | Intro to Humanities Class Notes - Fiveable
These traditions emphasize harmony with the environment, oral storytelling, and rituals that mark life's milestones. ... common spiritual themes across different ...
[33]
The Story of Us: College as a Modern Rite of Passage for Emerging ...
College provides contemporary American students with a modern rite of passage; it is a time of transition between youth and the real world of adulthood.Missing: secular boot camp retirement articles
[34]
Rite of passage ceremony initiates trainees into Soldiers - Army.mil
Dec 8, 2016 · The 210 graduating BCT Soldiers in A Battery, 1-40th FA had their rite of passage ritual Dec. 1, at Old Rock Quarry. They put on their berets for the first ...Missing: secular examples retirement sources
[35]
The Rite of Passage Experience of an Honorably Retired Secondary ...
Aug 6, 2025 · This study aims to propose the importance of consciousness and the need for an effective system for smooth identity transformation under the ...
[36]
Adolescent psychosocial identity development associated with ...
Oct 18, 2024 · This paper reports on a study that explored how adolescents in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana experience their psychosocial identity development
[37]
“Seijinshiki” (Coming-of-Age Ceremonies) - nippon.com
Jan 9, 2016 · Japanese celebrate joining the adult world with seijinshiki, or coming-of-age ceremonies. Held on Coming of Age Day on the second Monday in January.
[38]
How the Quinceañera Became a Latin American Rite of Passage
Jun 20, 2025 · Big dresses. Choreographed dances. A church ceremony and a formal party. A ritual changing of shoes. These are some of the most recognizable ...
[39]
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/thanksgiving
[40]
Thanksgiving: Historical Perspectives | National Archives Museum
Nov 22, 2021 · Thanksgiving today may have little connection with the Plymouth harvest festival 400 years ago, but it has a long history nevertheless.
[41]
What is the Moon Festival? A scholar of Chinese religions explains
Sep 16, 2021 · This is a time for family and friends to gather, watch the full moon and eat mooncakes and other delicacies.Missing: aspects gratitude<|separator|>
[42]
Under the Full Moon: A Journey Through the Unique Mid-Autumn ...
Sep 13, 2024 · As a result, The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate the moon and a plentiful harvest. Families come together to show gratitude to their ...
[43]
A Sociology of the Fourth of July: A Sociological Analysis
Jul 4, 2023 · Sociologically, the holiday plays a role in fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity among Americans. It serves as a reminder that ...
[44]
Celebrating Native Cultures Through Words: Storytelling and Oral ...
Indigenous peoples have strong storytelling traditions. Histories, stories, and religious rites were/are passed from the memories of one generation to the next ...Missing: gatherings anthropology
[45]
Storytelling and Cultural Traditions - National Geographic Education
Aug 18, 2025 · Storytelling is as old as culture. Many societies have long-established storytelling traditions. The stories, and performances thereof, function to entertain ...
[46]
The effects of secular rituals on social bonding and affect | PLOS One
Secular rituals might play a similar role to religious ones in fostering feelings of social connection and boosting positive affect.Missing: communal strengthening
[47]
Toward a Theory of Public Ritual - jstor
The article concerns the role of holidays in managing tensions and recommitment to values; their role in relating communities to the society at large; their ...<|separator|>
[48]
(PDF) The Role of Cultural Festivals in Promoting Social Cohesion ...
The inclusive nature of these festivals bridged social divides and strengthened the social fabric of communities, emphasizing the need for continued support to ...Missing: holidays | Show results with:holidays
[49]
Entertaining the community: the evolution of civic ritual and public ...
Aug 31, 2016 · For centuries, urban communities have used ritual and ceremony to mark collectively specific moments in time deemed worthy of celebration and ...
[50]
How the largest environmental movement in history was born - BBC
Apr 22, 2020 · Earth Day created, for the first time, an environmental movement, as local and specific concerns around clean air, water and pesticides ...Missing: rites | Show results with:rites
[51]
Rituals as Nature-Based Governance of reciprocity between people ...
Apr 12, 2024 · The ritual approach suggests creating flows of gifts between the garden and the neighbourhood, where the latter sends the gift of organic waste ...
[52]
Program notes: Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring
Aug 17, 2023 · With the encouragement of Sergei Diaghilev of the Ballets Russes and pagan scholar Nicholas Roerich, Stravinsky composed music to depict the ...
[53]
Stravinsky and the Rite of Spring
Below is a merged summary of *The Rite of Spring* based on the provided segments, combining all details into a single, comprehensive response. To maximize density and clarity, I’ve organized the information into a table format where appropriate, followed by additional narrative details and key quotes/facts that don’t fit neatly into a table. All information from the summaries is retained, with sources referenced by page numbers where provided.
[54]
Igor Stravinsky and Ballet as Modernism (Chapter 18)
The Rite of Spring (1913, choreographed by Nijinsky) is often recognised as the principal marker point, the threshold of modernism, a new movement within both ...
[55]
Drumfolk | Step Afrika!
Drumfolk is a rhythmic storytelling of the development of African American percussive dance and movement traditions.
[56]
About Us - Step Afrika!
Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of ...
[57]
Curse of the Ring: Das Rheingold - The Pacific Symphony Blog
Mar 19, 2025 · The Ring Cycle was to be a myth enacted through ritual to forge a national identity of shared values and ideals, ennobling the participants ...
[58]
THE FUTURE OF RITUAL - jstor
Ritual action is similar to what happens in theater and dance. There too behavior is rearranged, condensed, exaggerated and made rhythmic, while colorful ...
[59]
[PDF] RITUAL AND PERFORMANCE
Rituals are performative: they are acts done; and performances are ritualized: they are codified, repeatable actions. The functions of theatre identified by.Missing: 21st | Show results with:21st
[60]
(PDF) A Dramaturgy of Participation: Participatory Rituals, Immersive ...
Jan 27, 2023 · By casting audience members in specific roles, giving them permission to participate, and constructing a dramaturgy which is audience-centered, ...
[61]
[PDF] COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RITUAL ASPECTS OF WESTERN ...
One of the most interesting issues to me during the years is what the differences and similarities of ritual aspects between the West and Asia in performance.
[62]
Ritual and Narrative: Theoretical Explorations and Historical Case ...
Ritual and narrative are pivotal means of human meaning-making and of ordering experience, but the close interrelationsh...
[63]
The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell - USC Viterbi
Jul 5, 2017 · Inherently, every Hero's Journey is divided into the following 3 stages: Separation, Initiation, and Return. These are further divided into more ...
[64]
Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey
initiation — ...
[65]
84.04.07: We Want Our Rites! Folk and Fairy Tales as Initiation
Initiation rituals were designed to create an experience of these processes in order to give them credence and allow them to “live”. The Stories. We will now ...
[66]
Science vs. Superstition: Religious Outrage & The Exorcist (1973)
As an exemplary film of the era, The Exorcist communicates an image of a ... Catholic Church and the ancient rite of exorcism is their only option. His ...
[67]
Gibson's 'Apocalypto' Explores Mayan Rites - NPR
Sep 26, 2006 · Mel Gibson's new film project, set for release in December, has religious overtones. It tracks the life of a man marked for sacrifice among the ancient Mayans.
[68]
"Apocalypto" Tortures the Facts, Expert Says | National Geographic
Dec 8, 2006 · The movie suggests that the Maya relished torturing their captives. ... The ancient Maya overused their land and were no longer producing ...
[69]
[PDF] the functions of liminal space in twentieth- century literature
Rites of transition involve time spent in a space apart from one's society, often in the company of a mentor with whom the participant exchanges knowledge, ...
[70]
The Hunger Games: The Rebellion within Katniss Everdeen
Jul 12, 2019 · Rebellion is a rite of passage as a teenager, and many children learn that what is happening is not always right.
[71]
[PDF] The Hunger Games Trilogy and Young Adult Dystopian Literature
Apr 19, 2021 · The Hunger Games trilogy is set in a dystopian society where children fight to the death in televised games, and it shows media manipulation.
[72]
A Quick Look at Rite Aid's History - Investopedia
Rite Aid (RAD) was founded by Alex Grass in 1962 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as a health and beauty store, originally called Thrift D Discount Center.<|control11|><|separator|>
[73]
Rite Aid files for bankruptcy amid financial losses, opioid-related ...
Oct 16, 2023 · Rite Aid has filed for bankruptcy protection and plans to sell part of its business as it attempts to restructure while dealing with losses and opioid-related ...Missing: impact retail crisis
[74]
'Rare opportunity': Iconic drugstore chain once dominated U.S. ...
Oct 24, 2025 · In 2017, Walgreens agreed to purchase 1,932 Rite Aid stores, three distribution centers, and related inventory from Rite Aid for $4.37 billion.Missing: history expansions
[75]
Rite Aid closes all remaining stores after 63 years in business - CNN
Oct 4, 2025 · Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, largely because of competition from bigger chains and its debt pile, which topped $4 ...
[76]
Rite Aid Corporation and Affiliates Agree to Settle False Claims Act ...
Jul 10, 2024 · Rite Aid contributed to this crisis by ignoring obvious red flags and dispensing hundreds of thousands of unnecessary opioids,” said ...Missing: economic | Show results with:economic
[77]
'Pharmacy deserts' grow for millions of Americans as big chains ...
Oct 22, 2023 · Front-of-store sales at Rite Aid fell 4.4 percent in the latest quarter. ... Rite Aid reached a $30 million opioid settlement in 2022 with the ...Missing: crisis | Show results with:crisis
[78]
https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/rite-aid-corporation-and-affiliates-agree-settle-false-claims-act-and-controlled-substance
[79]
Rite foods
We are a leading consumer packaged goods company in the Nigerian food and beverage industry, guided by a fanatical commitment to excellence and quality.
[80]
Rite Foods Limited - LinkedIn Nigeria
Rite Foods Limited is a Truly World-Class and Proudly Nigerian Food and Beverage company giving its consumers quality refreshing brands since 2007.
[81]
Rituals at Work: Teams That Play Together Stay Together
Mar 24, 2022 · Rituals take many forms, ranging from a superstitious knock-on-wood to a rite of passage like a wedding. Group rituals abound in the world ...
[82]
The role of cadence and ritual at work - Wavelength by Asana -
It's not just a rite of passage for the new hire, it's a way of making his or her reverberations felt throughout the company. Let your rituals evolve. For ...Missing: ceremonies | Show results with:ceremonies
[83]
RPG Publisher Spotlight: Rite Publishing - Geek Native
Jul 16, 2019 · Rite Publishing was founded by Steven D. Russell (“Qwillion”) who tragically died in a car accident in 2016. The company he created lives on ...
[84]
Rite Publishing | RPG Publisher - RPGGeek
Rite Publishing produces a wealth of OGL games, including support for Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved rpg and the associated Diamond Throne setting.
[85]
Rite Publishing - d20PFSRD
Rite Publishing offers over 250 PDFs for Pathfinder RPG, 13th Age, and more, with a bundle for $34.95. 75% of profits go to Iris Russell's education fund.Get the Rite Bundle for the Rite... · There's never enough...
[86]
The RITE Way to Prototype - UX Magazine
We've found RITE to be a powerful yet low-risk way to test, validate, and improve on our designs, while engaging and building consensus among stakeholders.Missing: acronym | Show results with:acronym
[87]
APT - Automated Protocol Translator™ Software - Rite-Solutions
Rite-Solutions' Automated Protocol Translator (APT) is a software tool that resolves system interoperability challenges produced by varying and ever-changing ...
[88]
Rite-Solutions: Home
Rite-Solutions is an award-winning software development, systems engineering, information technology and learning development firm based in Middletown, RI with ...
[89]
[PDF] Virtual Reality Bridge Trainer - The University of Rhode Island
Rite-Solutions is an award-winning Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) headquartered in. Middletown, Rhode Island, established since April 2000.
[90]
Rite Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the Rite family derived their name from the Anglo-Saxon wyrhta [which] signifies, in its widest sense, the same as the Latin faber, a workman ...
[91]
Rite Surname Meaning & Rite Family History at Ancestry.com®
The Rite family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rite families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there ...