practice

Rite

A named sequence of acts. Initiation, offering, and calendar festivals are rites; calling everything a rite flattens the word.

Also known as ceremony

object · 20

Veil is associated with Rite.
Covering a face or a shrine is a local etiquette of rites. The cloth is not a metaphor of cosmic mystery until a later writer says so.
associated with · interpretive · culturally specific
Shofar is used in Rite.
JE SHOFAR seats the ancient ritual horn prescribed for New Moon and solemn feasts and surviving especially as the New-Year blowing — shofar rite use, not a silver ḥaẓoẓerah trumpet dump.
from Isidore Singer et al. · The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901–1906
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Lulav is used in Rite.
JE LULAB seats the festive palm-branch (with myrtle and willow) carried and waved with the etrog on the Feast of Tabernacles — lulav festival use, not the etrog citron alone.
from Isidore Singer et al. · The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901–1906
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Etrog is used in Rite.
JE LULAB names the Etrog (citron) as the fourth species carried with the lulab on Sukkot, waved and processed around the altar — etrog festival use, not the palm-branch dump.
from Isidore Singer et al. · The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901–1906
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Chuppah is used in Rite.
JE ḤUPPAH seats the bridal canopy (and later the wedding itself) into which bride and groom are ushered under nuptial benedictions — chuppah wedding-rite furniture, not a processional baldachin dump.
from Isidore Singer et al. · The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901–1906
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Processional cross is used in Rite.
CE PROCESSIONAL CROSS seats the crucifix carried at the head of a procession on a long staff — processional rite use, not a pectoral breast-cross.
from Charles G. Herbermann et al. · The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912
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Monstrance is used in Rite.
CE OSTENSORIUM (Monstrance) seats the vessel limited in modern English use to exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — monstrance use in exposition/Benediction rite, not a ciborium of reservation and not a perpetual-lamp dump.
from Charles G. Herbermann et al. · The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912
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Ombrellino is used in Rite.
CE CANOPY seats the ombrellino as the small umbrella-shaped processional canopy used when conveying the Blessed Sacrament (to the sick or to the baldacchino) — processional rite furniture, not an Indic chattra.
from Charles G. Herbermann et al. · The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912
used in · sourced · documented
Noh mask is used in Rite.
Chamberlain’s Nō article seats the carved masks of Nō drama as ritual theatre furniture of that stage — masked performance use, not a festival demon mask dump alone.
from Basil Hall Chamberlain · Things Japanese, 1890 (5th ed. 1905)
used in · sourced · documented
Gonfalon is used in Rite.
EB1911 Gonfalon seats the hung banner of Italian communes and processions — processional banner use, not a military ensign alone.
from Hugh Chisholm et al. · Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.), 1910–1911
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Oriflamme is used in Rite.
EB1911 Oriflamme seats the sacred banner of St Denis borne in French royal war — sacred-banner use, not a gonfalon alone.
from Hugh Chisholm et al. · Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.), 1910–1911
used in · sourced · documented
Crown of Thorns is historically related to Rite.
Twining seats the crown of thorns among the instruments of the Passion in Christian art — Passion emblem speech, not a royal crown alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
historically related to · sourced · documented

Norse tradition

Torch is used in Rite.
Eddic night and feast sequences in the Poetic Edda employ open brands as lighting instruments of hall rite and gathering, not mere scenery. A named ritual use of the torch, not KF incense churn and not Demeter’s torch-search alone.
from Anonymous (Eddic poems); Carolyne Larrington (translation) · Poetic Edda, medieval Icelandic compilation; Larrington trans. 1996/2014
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Cauldron is used in Rite.
Hymiskviða in the Poetic Edda makes Hymir’s cauldron the brewing vessel required for the gods’ ale-feast rite. A named ritual use of the cauldron, not Eldhrímnir’s Valhalla cook-job alone and not KF incense churn.
from Anonymous (Eddic poems); Carolyne Larrington (translation) · Poetic Edda, medieval Icelandic compilation; Larrington trans. 1996/2014
used in · sourced · documented

Northwest Coast tradition

Ochre is used in Rite.
Swanton’s Tlingit Myths and Texts treat red and yellow earth pigment as material used in body and object marking within ceremonial speech of that coast. Ochre used in that rite practice, not Pliny pharmacy alone and not appears_in attestation alone.
from John R. Swanton · Tlingit Myths and Texts, 1909
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Buddhist traditions

Mokugyo is used in Rite.
Chamberlain’s Buddhism / Music notes seat the mokugyo as the wooden fish gong struck in chant — chant-accompaniment use, not a bronze bonshō alone.
from Basil Hall Chamberlain · Things Japanese, 1890 (5th ed. 1905)
used in · sourced · documented

Chinese tradition

Luopan is used in Rite.
Bushell’s geomancy asides seat the luopan as the Chinese geomancer’s compass used in feng-shui rite — compass use in that practice, not a mariner’s compass dump alone.
from Stephen W. Bushell · Chinese Art, 1904–1906 (2nd ed. 1909)
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Suona is used in Rite.
Bushell’s festival and funeral music notes seat the suona as the loud Chinese shawm used in processions and rites — rite-music use, not a quiet qin alone.
from Stephen W. Bushell · Chinese Art, 1904–1906 (2nd ed. 1909)
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Islam

Miswak is used in Rite.
Hughes MISWAK seats the tooth-stick whose use is a religious duty before prayer — purification use in rite, not a modern toothbrush dump alone.
from Thomas Patrick Hughes · A Dictionary of Islam, 1885
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Celtic tradition

Clarsach is used in Rite.
Keightley’s Celtic music asides seat the clàrsach as the Gaelic harp of fairy and bardic tale — harp use in that speech, not a modern concert harp alone.
from Thomas Keightley · The Fairy Mythology, 1828 (enlarged PD eds. mid-19th c.)
used in · sourced · documented

concept · 11

Calendar is associated with Rite.
Festivals are often hung on a calendar. The rite is local even when the clock looks astronomical.
associated with · interpretive · documented
Death is associated with Rite.
Funerary rites treat death as an ending that still requires work. The work is local: weighing, wake, or cremation.
associated with · interpretive · documented
Indulgence is historically related to Rite.
CE INDULGENCES seats remissions of temporal penalty attached to prescribed pious acts and objects (including Apostolic indulgences on blessed crosses) — penitential rite speech, not bare forgiveness-of-guilt alone.
from Charles G. Herbermann et al. · The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912
historically related to · sourced · documented
Theotokos represents Rite.
Twining seats the Theotokos / Mother of God among central Marian emblems of Christian art — Theotokos speech, not a generic mother figure alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
represents · sourced · documented
Harrowing of Hell represents Rite.
Twining seats the Harrowing of Hell / Descent into Limbo among mediaeval Christian narrative emblems — Harrowing speech, not a generic hell place dump alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
represents · sourced · documented
Assumption represents Rite.
Twining seats the Assumption of the Virgin among Marian narrative emblems — Assumption speech, not a generic ascent alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
represents · sourced · documented
Psychostasis represents Rite.
Twining seats the weighing of souls / psychostasis among Last Judgment emblems — soul-weighing speech, not a market scale alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
represents · sourced · documented

Zen

Zazen is used in Rite.
Chamberlain’s Buddhism / Zen notes seat zazen as seated meditation practice of Zen — seated practice use in that rite-speech, not a generic prayer dump.
from Basil Hall Chamberlain · Things Japanese, 1890 (5th ed. 1905)
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Sufism

Samāʿ is used in Rite.
Hughes SAMA seats the Sufi audition / listening rite of music and whirling — audition use in Sufi rite, not secular concert alone.
from Thomas Patrick Hughes · A Dictionary of Islam, 1885
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Maqām is historically related to Rite.
Hughes MAQAM seats spiritual stations of the Sufi path — station speech in that rite-path, not a musical mode dump alone.
from Thomas Patrick Hughes · A Dictionary of Islam, 1885
historically related to · sourced · documented

Vedic tradition

Sati represents Rite.
Hobson’s Suttee article seats the rite of widow-burning among certain Hindu castes — named rite speech, not a generic funeral alone.
from Henry Yule and A. C. Burnell (ed. William Crooke) · Hobson-Jobson, 1886 (new ed. 1903)
represents · sourced · documented

ritual · 11

Brit milah is used in Rite.
JE CIRCUMCISION seats the eighth-day religious rite as the token of the covenant enjoined upon Abraham and his descendants — brit-milah covenant rite, not a medical procedure dump alone.
from Isidore Singer et al. · The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901–1906
used in · sourced · documented
Ordination is used in Rite.
CE HOLY ORDERS seats ordination as the outward sacramental action conferring clerical office and distinguishing ranks of clergy — ordination rite speech, not monastic profession vows alone.
from Charles G. Herbermann et al. · The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912
used in · sourced · documented
Paschal lamb is used in Rite.
In Watson’s Biblical and Theological Dictionary, the sacrifice of the paschal lamb and the sprinkling of its blood seat the Passover rite — the paschal lamb is that Passover sacrifice rite.
from Richard Watson · A Biblical and Theological Dictionary, 1831–32 (Gutenberg #53884)
used in · sourced · documented
Confirmation is used in Rite.
In Watson’s Biblical and Theological Dictionary, confirmation is treated among the church rites that follow baptismal admission — confirmation is that follow-on rite.
from Richard Watson · A Biblical and Theological Dictionary, 1831–32 (Gutenberg #53884)
used in · sourced · documented

Islam

Eid al-Fitr is historically related to Rite.
Hughes ʿĪDU ʾL-FITR seats the festival ending Ramaḍān — festival rite speech, not ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā alone.
from Thomas Patrick Hughes · A Dictionary of Islam, 1885
historically related to · sourced · documented
Eid al-Adha is historically related to Rite.
Hughes ʿĪDU ʾL-AZHA seats the sacrificial festival of the ḥajj season — festival rite speech, not ʿĪd al-Fiṭr alone.
from Thomas Patrick Hughes · A Dictionary of Islam, 1885
historically related to · sourced · documented

European folklore

Midsummer is historically related to Rite.
Keightley seats Midsummer among fairy-active festival nights of European custom — festival rite speech, not Beltane alone.
from Thomas Keightley · The Fairy Mythology, 1828 (enlarged PD eds. mid-19th c.)
historically related to · sourced · documented

Celtic tradition

Beltane is historically related to Rite.
Keightley seats Beltane among Gaelic May fire festivals tied to fairy and cattle rites — festival rite speech, not Midsummer alone.
from Thomas Keightley · The Fairy Mythology, 1828 (enlarged PD eds. mid-19th c.)
historically related to · sourced · documented
Samhain is historically related to Rite.
Keightley seats Samhain among Gaelic November-eve festivals when fairy doors open — festival rite speech, not Beltane alone.
from Thomas Keightley · The Fairy Mythology, 1828 (enlarged PD eds. mid-19th c.)
historically related to · sourced · documented
Imbolc is historically related to Rite.
Keightley seats Imbolc among Gaelic early-spring festivals — festival rite speech, not Samhain alone.
from Thomas Keightley · The Fairy Mythology, 1828 (enlarged PD eds. mid-19th c.)
historically related to · sourced · documented
Lughnasadh is historically related to Rite.
Keightley seats Lughnasadh among Gaelic harvest assemblies — harvest rite speech, not Imbolc alone.
from Thomas Keightley · The Fairy Mythology, 1828 (enlarged PD eds. mid-19th c.)
historically related to · sourced · documented

tradition · 7

Hellenic religion

Rite appears in Hellenic religion.
Pausanias describes local rites at sanctuaries across the Greek itinerary. A named rite in that periegesis, not mystery as Demeter-hymn speech alone and not a generic ritual dump without place.
from Pausanias · Description of Greece, c. 150–180 CE
appears in · sourced · documented

Vedic tradition

Rite appears in Vedic tradition.
The Ṛgveda seats the sacrifice sequence (yajña) as the acted order of praise, fire, and gift. A named Vedic rite in that corpus, not offerings as the gift-node already belonging to the tradition and not a generic ritual dump.
from Stephanie W. Jamison and Joel P. Brereton (translation) · The Rigveda, 2014 (this translation); hymns much older
appears in · sourced · documented

Nahua tradition

Rite appears in Nahua tradition.
Sahagún’s Florentine Codex feast books record named ceremony sequences — monthly feasts, offerings, and priestly acts as local rites. A colonial-era Nahua ethnographic attestation, not a pan-Mesoamerican essence and not an unfiltered pre-invasion voice.
from Bernardino de Sahagún and Nahua collaborators · Florentine Codex, c. 1577
appears in · sourced · culturally specific

Norse tradition

Rite appears in Norse tradition.
Hávamál and neighboring Poetic Edda counsel name blót and ordered ritual acts among the living’s duties. A named rite craft in that verse corpus, not every ceremony dump and not the Wave 4 torch/cauldron used_in→rite object edges.
from Anonymous (Eddic poems); Carolyne Larrington (translation) · Poetic Edda, medieval Icelandic compilation; Larrington trans. 1996/2014
appears in · sourced · documented

Roman religion

Rite appears in Roman religion.
Virgil’s Aeneid seats named ritual sequences—sacrifice order, funerary ordo, and founding rites at altar and grove. Rite as published practice-type in that epic, not Pausanian/Vedic rite walks restated.
from Virgil · Aeneid, 19 BCE (unfinished at the poet’s death)
appears in · sourced · documented

Egyptian religion

Rite appears in Egyptian religion.
The Book of the Dead scripts funerary rite speech — opening the mouth, offerings, going forth — as performed acts the living and dead share. Named rite presence in that corpus, not Hellenic mystery initiation alone and not burial equipment dumps.
from Raymond O. Faulkner (translation) · Book of the Dead, New Kingdom spells; Faulkner trans. 1972
appears in · sourced · culturally specific

Gnosticism is used in Rite.
In Watson’s Biblical and Theological Dictionary, Gnostic medals show figures used systematically among their rites — the rite is what those Gnosticism relics still display.
from Richard Watson · A Biblical and Theological Dictionary, 1831–32 (Gutenberg #53884)
used in · sourced · documented

word · 3

Norse tradition

Curse Formula is used in Rite.
Skírnismál in the Poetic Edda seats ordered curse-formula speech among coercion and threat rite. A named use of curse-formula in rite, not curse as the broader harm-speech already walked and not a hex-app dump.
from Anonymous (Eddic poems); Carolyne Larrington (translation) · Poetic Edda, medieval Icelandic compilation; Larrington trans. 1996/2014
used in · sourced · documented

Zen

Kōan is used in Rite.
Chamberlain’s Zen notes seat the kōan as the paradoxical meditation problem of Zen training — training-device use in that rite-speech, not a riddle entertainment dump.
from Basil Hall Chamberlain · Things Japanese, 1890 (5th ed. 1905)
used in · sourced · documented

Agnus Dei represents Rite.
Twining seats the Agnus Dei / Lamb of God among central Christian emblems of sacrifice — lamb emblem speech, not a farm animal alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
represents · sourced · documented

deity · 2

Vedic tradition

Durga is used in Rite.
Dowson Devi/Durga speech seats Durga as the inaccessible fierce form in whose honour the Durga-puja (and related Charak-puja barbarities) are held — named festival-rite use, not Kali as the black cremation-ground form alone.
from John Dowson · A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, 1879
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Egyptian religion

Isis is used in Rite.
Herodotus describes a principal Egyptian festival of Isis at Busiris where the people lament after sacrifice. A Greek traveler’s report of Isis as the dedicatory focus of a named rite, not the Demeter interpretatio edge and not a Book of the Dead spell.
from Herodotus · Histories, c. 440s BCE
used in · sourced · culturally specific

place · 2

Sukkah is used in Rite.
JE SUKKAH seats the festival booth (and the Mo'ed treatise regulating it) for eating and dwelling during the Feast of Tabernacles — sukkah booth use, not the feast-name dump alone.
from Isidore Singer et al. · The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901–1906
used in · sourced · documented
Vestry is used in Rite.
CE SACRISTY glosses Latin sacrastia as vestry and seats the room where clergy meet and vest for ecclesiastical functions — vesting use toward rite, kept apart from vessel-storage-only sacristy speech in the Atlas gloss.
from Charles G. Herbermann et al. · The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912
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practice · 2

Rite contains Offerings.
Many rites include a gift. The gift does not make every rite a sacrifice.
contains · interpretive · culturally specific
Rite contains Initiation.
Initiation is one species of rite: a change of status with a sequence of acts.
contains · interpretive · documented

celestial-body · 1

Māori tradition · Aotearoa

Matariki is used in Rite.
Matariki is observed with gathering and year-rites. Matamua describes a living knowledge, not a reconstructed paganism.
from Rangi Matamua · Matariki: The Star of the Year, 2017
used in · sourced · documented

color · 1

White is associated with Rite.
Linen and pale garments appear in more than one rite of seeing or burying. Each dress code is local.
associated with · interpretive · culturally specific

element · 1

Vedic tradition

Fire is associated with Rite.
Vedic offering and later household customs use fire to make a thing fit for a god or a table. Purification is a local job of flame, not a global essence.
from Stephanie W. Jamison and Joel P. Brereton (translation) · The Rigveda, 2014 (this translation); hymns much older
associated with · partially sourced · documented

symbol · 1

Hourglass and skull is historically related to Rite.
Twining’s memento mori / death emblems seat hourglass and skull among Christian reminders of mortality — memento-mori speech, not a secular clock alone.
from Louisa Twining · Symbols and Emblems of Early and Mediaeval Christian Art, 1852 (new ed. 1885)
historically related to · sourced · documented