>Two examples of things which have managed sustained
>cultural lineages, but with altered meanings. Interesting,
>that, come to think of it: activities are passed on, meaning
>is lost.
Yes yes yes! There are examples of this everywhere! The
court-rooms are a good example -- what's with the judges robe?
His gavel?
But another excellent example (if you buy the Amanita Muscara
scholoarship) is the Christian Communion. Actions continue, but
the meaning and purpose of the event is lost (and has been since
at least the sixth century, when the Catholic Church officially
recgonized the dogma of "Transubstitution").
http://www.sirius.com/~holy/mushroom.html
ERiC