What a beautiful article. Inspiring us to honour and find new vital meaning in our culture’s old rituals, no matter how archaically quaint and irrelevant they might seem to our “sophisticated” and cynical secular minds. It was like a shot up my arm in this de-energised, sterile time. Thank you.
Really, really interesting and a joy to read in these sterile, shallow times. I had not realised that the introduction of the Spring Bank holiday in 1971 sounded the death knell for Whitsuntide. I live in Lancashire where Whit Walks still take place, though sadly not this year.
joutsen_cygnus21
3 years ago
Just want to point out that Ramadan uses a lunar calendar and doesn’t mark the passing of any seasons; it receeds every year. Hence why a decade ago it would have been around December. Not to mention that the length of hours spent fasting (and not drinking, having sex, etc) vary because of daylight hours.
Tony Reardon
3 years ago
There is no real reason to bemoan the fading of one old Christian holiday as marking the loss of common rituals. Every country has its own special days and has evolved rituals to accompany these. One might cite Guy Fawkes in the UK, Halloween in the USA (and increasingly in other countries) as well as more official events such as ANZAC day in Australia and New Zealand and Labour day in numerous countries. With vastly increased immigration in recent years we have all become more aware of other culture’s holidays and we may well see some of these become integrated into the general awareness even as we generally become less religious.
While the Covid lockdowns may have muted many celebrations, it is difficult to see this as in any way as having a permanent effect on the rituals which mark the progress of all our lives.
You have incredible faith in the New World life behind the digital veil that most of us seem to be opting for. I don’t see ANZAC day cutting it much for our Millennials and Gen Zs here in New Zealand. And although it might be colourful for us to be beginning to be aware of Ramadan and Eid, I don’t think these rituals will quite cut it for our paling culture, more and more cut off from its roots either. Matariki (the Maori New Year) may hold some hope, though despite the general Woke fad for the embracing of indigenous cultures, I don’t see much more than lip-service being paid by most PÄkÄ“hÄ (Europeans) to our indigenous MÄori culture.
While there may be no real reason to bemoan the passing of things that don’t matter to you, there are many to whom they matter greatly. You don’t get to decide what others may or may not experience as a loss.
What a beautiful article. Inspiring us to honour and find new vital meaning in our culture’s old rituals, no matter how archaically quaint and irrelevant they might seem to our “sophisticated” and cynical secular minds. It was like a shot up my arm in this de-energised, sterile time. Thank you.
Me too.
Really, really interesting and a joy to read in these sterile, shallow times. I had not realised that the introduction of the Spring Bank holiday in 1971 sounded the death knell for Whitsuntide. I live in Lancashire where Whit Walks still take place, though sadly not this year.
Just want to point out that Ramadan uses a lunar calendar and doesn’t mark the passing of any seasons; it receeds every year. Hence why a decade ago it would have been around December. Not to mention that the length of hours spent fasting (and not drinking, having sex, etc) vary because of daylight hours.
There is no real reason to bemoan the fading of one old Christian holiday as marking the loss of common rituals. Every country has its own special days and has evolved rituals to accompany these. One might cite Guy Fawkes in the UK, Halloween in the USA (and increasingly in other countries) as well as more official events such as ANZAC day in Australia and New Zealand and Labour day in numerous countries. With vastly increased immigration in recent years we have all become more aware of other culture’s holidays and we may well see some of these become integrated into the general awareness even as we generally become less religious.
While the Covid lockdowns may have muted many celebrations, it is difficult to see this as in any way as having a permanent effect on the rituals which mark the progress of all our lives.
You have incredible faith in the New World life behind the digital veil that most of us seem to be opting for. I don’t see ANZAC day cutting it much for our Millennials and Gen Zs here in New Zealand. And although it might be colourful for us to be beginning to be aware of Ramadan and Eid, I don’t think these rituals will quite cut it for our paling culture, more and more cut off from its roots either. Matariki (the Maori New Year) may hold some hope, though despite the general Woke fad for the embracing of indigenous cultures, I don’t see much more than lip-service being paid by most PÄkÄ“hÄ (Europeans) to our indigenous MÄori culture.
While there may be no real reason to bemoan the passing of things that don’t matter to you, there are many to whom they matter greatly. You don’t get to decide what others may or may not experience as a loss.