Ceremony

[Paradoxum]

The ceremony is a social announcement. As an example, a soldier is awarded a medal. His commander could merely walk by his desk and hand it to him, but the purpose of the ceremony is to announce to the rest of the unit and the general pubic not only that this soldier was awarded a medal but also that the unit has such meritorious soldiers within it.

I'd say that is for the soldier though. Having it done in front of people makes it more special and important for the one getting the award.

The ceremony is for both the individual and for the society. It is a public reinforcement of the values of the society and points toward confidence in the future of the society.

I don't think it has all that much to do with society. Maybe somewhat.

A wedding ceremony is an observance, validation, and celebration of the continuation of the values of that society. This is the reason why Jewish wedding ceremonies and Hindu wedding ceremonies, for instance, still exist in the US. It validates those particular societies.

I don't think it has anything to do with the values of that society. It's for the couple, and it doesn't have to promote any particular values.

 

[RDKirk]

I'd say that is for the soldier though. Having it done in front of people makes it more special and important for the one getting the award.

No, most individual soldiers would be just as happy just having it handed to them. The ceremony is very much an organizational thing.

I don't think it has anything to do with the values of that society. It's for the couple, and it doesn't have to promote any particular values.

If that were the case, there would be lots of cross-cultural ceremonies where the couples' own cultures had nothing to do with the ceremony they chose. Jews would have Hindu ceremonies just because they liked the colors.

 

[Paradoxum]

No, most individual soldiers would be just as happy just having it handed to them. The ceremony is very much an organizational thing.

That doesn't necessarily mean it isn't for the individual though.

I didn't particularly like having to walk in front of everyone to get my degree. It still made it more special though.

If that were the case, there would be lots of cross-cultural ceremonies where the couples' own cultures had nothing to do with the ceremony they chose. Jews would have Hindu ceremonies just because they liked the colors.

Why do you think that? I didn't say that people don't choose their cultures wedding ceremony... I said it wasn't to do with values.

It isn't about promoting societal values because (British) wedding ceremonies don't necessarily promote any particular values.