This is addendum, not correction. Rituals have a few distinct elements: + Repetition both in the ritual and of the ritual itself. + Assigned time or place. E

This is addendum, not correction. Rituals have a few distinct elements: + Repetition both in the ritual and of the ritual itself. + Assigned time or place. Eg praying before dinner, or Christmas mass. + Fetish. Some kind of object or words, a "solidification of intent". This can be a garment or some specific movement too. So yes, an anthem is absolutely a ritual, as is a specific cheer for a sports team, under this framework. Rituals serve several purposes including fostering group identity (the family praying before dinner together), marking something as special (the anthem before a sports game) and demarcation (Christmas mass). Obviously a ritual can fulfill some or a blend of these objectives. Rituals, I believe, matter for the subconcious and non-rational parts of the human psyche. I think intentional, religious or non-religious, rituals are a useful tool.