Conversation

Next Sunday is the Superbowl in the US, the closest thing we have to a national religious festival. I have no interest in the game itself, but the ritual aspects of it are fascinating.

For example, the name "Superbowl" is trademarked, so while ordinary people call it that, businesses call it "The Big Game" to avoid getting sued. This seems eerily similar to the way substitute names are used when there is a religious taboo against speaking a holy name aloud.

#CulturalAnthropology