Workplace or professional rituals

flutable — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:27:08 -0800

What rituals do you have in your profession or job? A friend's son - who works in the construction industry - told me about "topping-out parties" once a building's top floor and roof structure have been completed. Now I'm curious about what other professions do. Not so interested in religious rituals though. As an example, I recall a BBC documentary on shipbuilding, and a ritual that takes place in the bowels of the ship once the lower hull has been completed. And of course there is the ship-naming ritual with the bottle of champagne.

I'm interested not only in graduation rituals (such as graduates from a military academy throwing their hats up into the air) but also things either celebrating something - like the topping-out party, with the company lifting entire trees (!) in pots, via crane, up onto the roof for the party - or rituals performed as part of a job, such as a massage or alternative therapies practitioner "centring" him/herself prior to working with a client.

So, what rituals are there at YOUR workplace?

Wedding ceremonies

about_time — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 18:07:04 -0800

WeddingFilter: My wedding ceremony will be secular. A friend will officiate. So we need to plan out the ceremony on our own. What is your advice for planning a meaningful ceremony? The ceremony will take place in front of 70 or so guests in a large flower garden/courtyard. So the location is fixed. I'm not asking about the reception or other wedding details like saving money on flowers... there are many threads on that already on askmefi. I'm interested in ideas for the ceremony itself that are memorable. I'm not asking for things that randomly happened (like rainbows), but specific ideas that I can plan for. Like asking a friend to sing or perform a song, or readings, etc. (Sorry to be picky!)

Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ceremonies

Workplace or professional rituals

Wedding ceremonies