A ritual, or rite, was a specialized act or event which was important to a culture, society, sect or individual. Rituals often involved groups of those who believed in what is being ritualized. Chanting, singing, dancing or praying was often involved in performing a ritual. (citation needed • edit)
Many species throughout the galaxy had established rituals for a variety of events. Examples of such species included the Klingons, Vulcans, Humans and Ferengi. (citation needed • edit)
When the landing party from Enterprise NX-01 did not contact the ship following their transport to the Vulcan monastery at P'Jem in June of 2151, Malcolm Reed became nervous. Hoshi Sato told him to stay calm as the landing party probably just had a tour and was observing a meditation ritual. (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")
Sub-commander T'Pol once participated in the Vulcan ritual kahs-wan. (ENT: "The Catwalk")
In 2364, the Ligonians were noted for their respect for patience which could be seen in the precise, ritualistic way they did things. (TNG: "Code of Honor")
The inhabitants of Kaelon II practiced a ritual known as the "Resolution" when an individual approached his or her 60th birthday. During the Resolution, a ceremony was held in the person's honor touting the person's accomplishments and their noteworthy achievements. Once the celebration was complete, the individual committed a ritualistic suicide. (TNG: "Half a Life")
In 2373, when Captain Kathryn Janeway expressed her difficulties with mastering the Tak Tak language to Neelix, he replied that it seemed to him that many of their gestures were ritualistic in nature and possibly even superstitious. (VOY: "Macrocosm")
See also[]
- Ceremonies
- Mating ritual
- Ritual cloak
- Ritual of Twenty Painstiks
- Ritual sacrifice
- Ritual sectioning
- Ritual suicide