ABSTRACT
Rituals are a feature of all human societies, large and small. They are an important part of the way that any social group celebrates, maintains and renews the world in which it lives, and the way it deals with the dangers and uncertainties that threaten that world. Rituals occur in many settings, take on many forms and perform many functions, both sacred and secular. This chapter will describe the type of rituals that relate to health and illness and the management of misfortune.
