Food rituals hold a significant cultural and religious value beyond mere sustenance. Even when food is essential for survival, people engage in elaborate rituals involving food items like cakes to mark celebrations and special occasions, giving a deeper meaning to the act of consuming food. These rituals transform food into something meaningful and symbolic, where individuals are willing to sacrifice the food itself for the sake of the ritualistic experience and the emotions tied to it.
While religion may play less of a role in many people's lives, rituals--the lifeblood of religion--remain central to the human experience. Listen as Michael Norton of the Harvard Business School explains how and why rituals remain at the center of our lives--they give meaning to life-cycle events and secular holidays, calm our fears, and give us a sense of control when the pressure to perform can otherwise overwhelm us.