A water rite is a rite or ceremonial custom that uses water as the central feature. Typically, a person is immersed or bathed as a symbol of religious indoctrination or ritual purification. Examples include the Mikvah in Judaism, a custom of purity, and baptism, a custom that represents purity and indoctrination, in Christianity. Rites that use water, but not as their central feature, for example, that include drinking water, are not considered water rites.
Famous quotes containing the words water and/or rite:
“Man is but a reed, the feeblest one in nature; but he is a thinking reed. The entire universe need not arm itself to crush him—a vapor, a drop of water suffices to kill him. But if the universe were to crush him, man would still be nobler than that which killed him, because he knows that he dies and the advantage which the universe has over him; the universe knows nothing of this.”
—Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)
“No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)