observances
Ceremonies faithfully followed
Observances are acts of following rules, customs, or religious practices.
The word emphasizes compliance or adherence: strict observances of dietary laws, the observance of safety protocols.
Religious observances are ceremonies or rituals marking holy days or traditions: Lenten observances, Sabbath observance.
The word can also mean the act of watching or noticing, though this sense is rare outside formal contexts.
Formal beginning ceremony
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
commencement · convocation · consecration · installation · enthronement · procession · pageantry · solemnity
Thing preserving remembrance
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- tributeOffering of respect
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- anniversaryRecurring memorial date
armistice · wreath-laying · moment of silence · poppy · cenotaph · martyrs · fallen · honoring
Ceremonial set of actions
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- prayerAddress to deity
sabbath · lent · vespers · mass · devotion · vigil · holy day · feast day
Custom passed through generations
- customHabitual group practice
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
festivity · celebration · festival · carnival · parade · feast · fiesta · jubilee
Faithful following of something
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- conformityAdherence to norms
- formalityStrict observance of convention
strictness · propriety · decorum · etiquette · code · standard · mandate · requirement
inauguration
Formal beginning ceremony
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
ordination · commencement · convocation · consecration · installation · enthronement · procession · pageantry · solemnity · oath-taking
memorial
Thing preserving remembrance
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- tributeOffering of respect
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
anniversary · armistice · wreath-laying · moment of silence · poppy · cenotaph · martyrs · fallen · honoring · dedication
ritual
Ceremonial set of actions
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
prayer · sabbath · lent · vespers · mass · devotion · vigil · holy day · feast day · abstinence
tradition
Custom passed through generations
folklore · festivity · celebration · festival · carnival · parade · feast · fiesta · jubilee · harvest festival
adherence
Faithful following of something
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- conformityAdherence to norms
formality · strictness · propriety · decorum · etiquette · code · standard · mandate · requirement · procedure
- holiday traditionsChristmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, New Year
- customscustoms, customs clearance, wedding custom, customs declaration, burial custom
- routinesmorning routine, habits, routines, morning routines, procedures
- celebrationsgraduation, festival, party, wedding, fireworks
- festivalsfestival, festivals, carnival, carnivals, Carnival
- yogaasana, asanas, pranayama, yoga class, yoga pose
observancesviolations
Breaches of rules
breaches · transgressions · infractions · contraventions · noncompliance
observancesneglect
Failure to provide care
omissions · abandonment · disregard · nonobservance · irreligion
observancesimprovisations
Spontaneous unrehearsed performances
carelessnesses · informality · haphazardness · randomness · whims
- religious observancePractice of faith duties
- holiday observancesWays of honoring occasions
- weekly observance
- ritual observancePrescribed ceremonial act
- observance of rulesActing according to standards
- Sabbath observanceWeekly religious rest practice