A '''ritual''' is a prescribed set of [[actions]], often thought to have [[symbols|symbolic]] [[value]], the performance of which is usually prescribed by a [[religion]] or by the [[tradition]]s of a [[community]] by religious or [[political]] [[law]]s because of the perceived efficacy of those actions.[http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/ritual?view=uk|title=AskOxford.com][http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ritual|title=Dictionary.com] | A '''ritual''' is a prescribed set of [[actions]], often thought to have [[symbols|symbolic]] [[value]], the performance of which is usually prescribed by a [[religion]] or by the [[tradition]]s of a [[community]] by religious or [[political]] [[law]]s because of the perceived efficacy of those actions.[http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/ritual?view=uk|title=AskOxford.com][http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ritual|title=Dictionary.com] |