rite

A rite is a special ceremony or ritual that's usually done regularly. It can also refer to an established custom or tradition.

When we talk about rites, we often think of things like weddings and funerals - those big events that have their own set of rules and expectations. But rites are used in many other situations too. For example, some people go through a rite of passage when they graduate from college or get their first job. This is just a fancy way of saying they're marking an important milestone in their life with some sort of ceremony. Even smaller things like saying grace before meals or lighting candles on special occasions can be considered rites.

As for the word "rite" itself, it has two main forms: rite and ritual. They both basically mean the same thing - a set of actions that are done in a particular way to mark an occasion. So if you're talking about something specific like a wedding ceremony, you might say that's a rite or a ritual.