Shakespeare A to Z | Ceremonies and Rituals
Elizabethans marked important occasions in their lives with formal ceremonies and traditional procedures, or rituals. Significant milestones, such as birth, marriage, or death, were the most common reason for these observances. In addition to marking an event as noteworthy, ceremonies and rituals enabled people to express their shared beliefs and values. Each detail of a ceremonial service had a symbolic meaning. For example, a white cloth placed on a baby’s head during its christening* represented purity and freedom from sin.
[The entire page is 650 words long]