Håndvask og fællessang Ritualer og ritualiserede handlinger i Coronaens tid

ABSTRACT

Based on data from the COVID-19 survey this article investigates how the pandemic has influenced the performance of rituals in Denmark. Based on a theoretical account of a number of theories of ritual, we present a heuristic model of the five dimensions of ritual (1) the efficacy of ritual;(2) the meaning of ritual;(3) the coping potential of ritual;(4) the social solidarity dimension of ritual;and (5) anxiety reducing dimension of ritual. These five dimensions are then used to interpret the results of the quantitative survey. In particular, we direct our attention to potential ritualized properties of new instrumental behavior such as hand sanitation;to changes in both collective and private rituals as well as to the new virtual rituals;and, in particular, on how virtual community singing has flourished as a ritual of social cohesion. We conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic only to a limited degree has influences the attitude towards and use of rituals, and that the huge popularity of virtual community singing during the first wave of the pandemic in spring 2020 is the singular, most important ritual innovation. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.