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:
“By constant dripping, water hollows stone,
A signet-ring from use alone grows thin,
And the curved plowshare by soft earth is worn.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)
“A woman can get marries and her life does change. And a man can get married and his life changes. But nothing changes life as dramatically as having a child. . . . In this country, it is a particular experience, a rite of passage, if you will, that is unsupported for the most part, and rather ignored. Somebody will send you a couple of presents for the baby, but people do not acknowledge the massive experience to the parents involved.”
—Dana Raphael (20th century)