Reduction in symbolic celebrations

Because of the limiting nature of modern life and the reducing of many to subsistence-level existence, the scope of celebrations has been reduced from the richness of many past celebrational forms. Traditional celebrations which re-enacted the whole of life have often been forgotten, although weddings and funerals have taken a primary place and are engaged in with passion and in the teeth of the economic reality. There is a need for communities to broaden the scope and number of events to mark the journey through life, and to transpose ancient wisdom into meaningful contemporary forms.

Celebrations most often focus on the pleasant aspects of life, avoiding the fullness of struggles, joys and sorrows of daily living. Living is celebrated as positive achievements and better times rather than its entirety.

1. Theological collapse
2. Symbol system failure
3. Deteriorating quality of life

1. Limited artistic expression
2. Lack of secular celebrations
3. Inhibition of collectively organized fantastic happenings
4. Decreasing participation in collective religious worship
5. Burdensome cost of religious ceremonies

1. Unorganized community recreation
2. Insufficient community holidays

1. Rejection of rituals
2. Lack of commitment to common symbols
3. Commercialization of symbolic cultural celebrations

1. Preoccupation with historical symbolism

1. Routine sexual mutilation of males
2. Ritual slaughter of animals
3. Ritual pollution
4. Ritual cannibalism
5. Organized sexual abuse of children
6. Nudism
7. Involuntary ritual hazings
8. Human sacrifice
9. Female genital mutilation

1. Welcoming obsolescence
2. Increasing symbolic celebrations

1. Reduction
2. Obsolescence
3. Underuse
4. Unused