Rituals of the year

Today is Good Friday for those of us in the West. Traditionally one might eat fish. Whereas, for Easter Sunday, ham is popular in the US and lamb in Europe. This got me to thinking of Martinmas when we salt the beef (that we might eat for Easter the next year, perhaps), except not any more, and also about Whitsun coming up in due course: that may be more significant here in Scotland but overall probably only churchgoers will notice. Today also happens to be Lady Day but is our rent thus due? No it isn't. I don't even expect to see any poles with ribbons on May Day.

I like ritual. I could be an eager participant in the symbolic trappings of something, but without being part of organized religion myself, nor even with extended family around, it would probably all seem rather empty. The original reasons for many of these traditions typically have little relevance for modern society and we don't much replace them with new ones. That feels like a loss.