"This volume is written by scholars who have presented research at the Conference on Holidays, Ritual, Festival, Celebration, and Public Display. The papers themselves are not necessarily the same as their original presentations, and represent only a few of the authors who have presented at this annual conference over the years. This annual conference began in 1997 and the 15th was held in 2011 at the Sorbonne.This book reflects on the field of Ritual Studies, and the role and influence of the conference"--Paraphrase from the introduction.