Festivals and rituals with varying purposes took place in various times during the year of traditional European life from the 15th century to the late nineteenth century. Florentine, Lutheran, English, French, and Russian writers observed the diverse intentions concerning both rituals and festivals. Based on the writings and illustration from 1468 – late 1800’s the purpose of a European festival and ritual was seen as a temporary relief of tensions, reinforcement of values through unusual behavior, and a management of deviant behavior.
A significant factor in society was the purpose of having festivals that served as a respite of stress that the ordinary people had accumulated. John Taylor conveys the youth of European society armed with weapons desiring to destroy their own town (4). Their attempt to rid of their own town symbolizes their need to destroy their own stress from the myriad amount of hours of labor. R. Lassels comments on his observations of Italians wanting to release their onerous burdens that they have concealed throughout the forceful year (5). Being a French traveler in a foreign country, he has consternation about the people’s celebration that has been longed by so many.
Another function that such festivities served in traditional Europe was the intention of emphasizing valuable ethics. Baltasar Rusow comments on the incredible actions of the people with their disorder (2). As a Lutheran pastor, his expectations of leading a pious and austere life have been totally contradicted by the people’s disregard for rules among the festivities. By 1725, synonymous events are still occurring in Great Britain, which can be seen by Henry Bourne’s statements on the neglect of social class during a custom celebration (6). Pieter Brueghel’s illustration describes a contrast between 2 sides of contemporary life – enjoyment and religious observance (3). This portrays the institutionalized disorder and reversal of roles as an effect of the social tension...