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F ³: Ceremonial Silliness


 


It wasn’t all that long ago that I wrote about why we humans mark the beginnings of things by wielding a shovel or or an enormous pair of scissors. 

Ceremonial, Village Green/Town², 6/20/2024

Perhaps it was the groundbreaking for a new Lakefront bandshell or the wall-breaking for new patient facilities at the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center that set my imagination in motion. Why do we these things that are not really the things but are ritual references of the things? I think that archeologists looking back many years hence will be having a field day with us.

Years ago I sang at a wedding where the priest accidentally turned too many pages and addressed the (startled) young couple with these words:

For those baptized in Christ, life has not ended, but changed. 

The big laugh of the day was the apology of the officiant who confessed he had turned to the funeral rite by mistake.

I share this anecdote by way of suggesting that, if we are going to cling to our well-meaning ritual behavior, then I think we ought to trying turning it on its head. 

Let’s think up our own wacky groundbreaking rituals!

Hmm, let me see…the ritual planting of the seeds, the magical baking soda and vinegar volcano*, the purposeful sticking of the Post-it notes™ of intent, the ever-optimistic setting of the alarm clock for completion, the territorial marking with googly eyes,** perhaps?

And what about grand opening rites of celebration? These could take the place of ribbon cutting and unveilings.

How about the solemn opening of the breadbox? The great unzipping? The festive removal of the price tags? I know! The great unwrapping! Or the community singing of the Muppet Show theme song - -  everyone can participate in that one. 

So I’m looking for suggestions for each category. 

1. Signalling beginnings and intent

2. Announcing the completion and/or opening of something. The sillier the better, but: they must have some connection to human behavior and the task at hand. 

It’s Free Form Friday. I know I have whimsical readers. Let’s have some fun with this. Goodness knows Old Ellicott City is having fun these days, what with DeLoreans and Dr. Who. If they can use their imaginations, so can we.


Village Green/Town² Comments



*Okay, this one makes no sense. I just like the thought of it. 

**More appropriate for Mr. Trash Wheel and friends than for us, I guess. 



Comments

  1. Julia A. McCreadyNovember 21, 2025 at 3:06 AM

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