"Ritualistic circumstances"?

[CopperNGold]

I'm trying to go back in my mind to my anthro classes in college. And that was way, ay back in time! I was wondering what his definition of 'ritualistic' is?

In anthropology, if I remember well, it is a broad term. For example, in modern Western culture, even brushing our teeth could be deemed ritualsitic to our culture. Today, many use the 'spin brush' and floss daily. The act of brushing and flossing is ritualistic to us. It is something we do everyday, a part of our daily ritual. In past generations, they used a toothbrush and baking soda, the ritualistic pattern of that era. Further back, the use of grass or weeds for teeth cleaning is ritualistic to that era.

So, I would want to see what his definition of ritualistic is, and how he applies it to the kilt. Possibly as a part of the everday life of the highlander in past generations?

Also, I think he is too broad in his statement that in Western culture, men have never worn a skirted garment. Others here have given perfect examples of why this is not a factual statement. I think he may be taking liberties with some of his statements.

It will be fascinating meeting with him, and would you please do a follow-up on what you discussed?

Jocelyn

[Dale Seago]

In anthropology, if I remember well, it is a broad term. For example, in modern Western culture, even brushing our teeth could be deemed ritualsitic to our culture. Today, many use the 'spin brush' and floss daily. The act of brushing and flossing is ritualistic to us. It is something we do everyday, a part of our daily ritual. In past generations, they used a toothbrush and baking soda, the ritualistic pattern of that era. Further back, the use of grass or weeds for teeth cleaning is ritualistic to that era.

And:

In psychology, the term ritual is sometimes used in a technical sense for a repetitive behavior systematically used by a person to neutralize or prevent anxiety. . .
(Wikipedia)

This is extremely important to my African Grey Parrot's sense of well-being. She has a lively curiosity and enjoys new experiences, but is at her best when they're balanced within a framework of consistent routine actions such as my always giving her a treat when I put her in "her house" because I need to leave for a while; offering a drink of water before we go to bed; giving her some warm camomile tea as I'm having my morning coffee; etc.

And often she'll remind me if I forget something. Recently, at my girlfriend's for the weekend, shortly after sundown she let us know it was time to begin winding things down for the evening: "Okay, start to go to bed! Can I have drink of water?". (First time I ever heard her use the word "start".)

[Bugbear]

And:



This is extremely important to my African Grey Parrot's sense of well-being. She has a lively curiosity and enjoys new experiences, but is at her best when they're balanced within a framework of consistent routine actions such as my always giving her a treat when I put her in "her house" because I need to leave for a while; offering a drink of water before we go to bed; giving her some warm camomile tea as I'm having my morning coffee; etc.

And often she'll remind me if I forget something. Recently, at my girlfriend's for the weekend, shortly after sundown she let us know it was time to begin winding things down for the evening: "Okay, start to go to bed! Can I have drink of water?". (First time I ever heard her use the word "start".)

That's cool: bird rituals. It seems like cats develop rituals, too.

* Edit:
CopperNGold, I took "Ritualistic circumstances" in the quote to mean something more like ceremonial garb than daily ritual as you are thinking.

I know very little on the subject, but it seems interesting.

[mookien]

That would make a great signature, Mookien.

Excellent idea!

Now, if I can just translate that into Latin. Let's see, "Decipio ... ??"

[mookien]

And often she'll remind me if I forget something. Recently, at my girlfriend's for the weekend, shortly after sundown she let us know it was time to begin winding things down for the evening: "Okay, start to go to bed! Can I have drink of water?". (First time I ever heard her use the word "start".)

I have a friend who "baby sat" some exotic birds for a few days, one of whom was an African Grey. Every morning at about sunup the Grey would repeat, "Time to feed me. Time to feed me. ..." until my friend complied with the request, ... or was it a command?

[CopperNGold]

True, Dale! Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a ritualistic psychological phenomonon. And, yes, cats have their rituals, as do birds. Our family dog was used to make his 'rounds' every night after dinnertime to the neighbors homes, where they would put out scraps for him at their back doors. He did this as a part of his nightly ritual. Even when my parents built a new home in another neighborhood, my good old Chesapeake Bay retriever still made his ritualistic rounds to the old neighborhood.

[CopperNGold]

We wondered why our poor old dog was not losing weight on his diet!

I don't play poker, but the psychological aspect you mentioned, Dale, is the 'tell' players use to outwit another player. Are they playing with their tie, cuff links, scratching their eyebrow, do they lean a bit to the left, clearing their throat, etc. These are their unrecognized ritualistic customs designed to relieve stress. Works when playing chess, too!

[Dale-of-Cedars]

And:
This is extremely important to my African Grey Parrot's sense of well-being.

We read/recite to our flock of 7 parrots a bedtime story every night as a calming ritual. Same story every night; "Little Monster's Bedtime Book" Though if we're rushed, or very late, we can leave large chunks out and they don't seem to mind. (Practicing with grand-children in mind...)

[Bugbear]

I would have to look it up, but there was a horse that could sense and respond to the body language and such of it's owner in a way that led everyone to think the horse could do complex mathematics, and answer by tapping it's hoof the correct number of times. The horse was reading the owner to know when to stop tapping, though.

I'm almost certain similar signals can extend to many other animals, but also the unconscious parts of other people's minds.

So, what unconscious, or outside of awareness, signals might we be communicating to and between the people with whom we have frequent contact by our clothing choices, or the way we wear our articles of clothing?

[CMcG]

<snip>

So, what unconscious, or outside of awareness, signals might we be communicating to and between the people with whom we have frequent contact by our clothing choices, or the way we wear our articles of clothing?

There is a thorny semiotic question, which undergirds a lot of discussion on Xmarks! Let me think about that before I try and answer...