In Kidd's novel, characters engage in rituals to forge connections with others and their past. Early in the story, Lily assigns a ritualistic importance to her mother's few belongings. She keeps these items hidden in a special place and only views them in secret. A pair of gloves allows her to imagine her mother's presence. Meanwhile, May Boatwright has a personal ritual to manage the stress caused by others' suffering: she writes prayers on slips of paper and places them in a wailing wall she constructed behind the Boatwright house. After May passes away, Lily takes on the responsibility of maintaining this wall.

The novel's most pivotal rituals revolve around Our Lady of Chains. When August shares the tale of Our Lady, it's clear that the other Daughters have heard it many times. During their annual Mary Day celebration, they perform a ritual involving chaining the statue and anointing it with honey, and they also share Communion with honey cakes.

The rituals of Our Lady connect the Daughters to the original slaves who drew strength from her and to the generations that came before them. For August, these practices are especially meaningful, as they tie her to her mother and grandmother, from whom she learned them.