totemism
/ˈtoʊtəmɪzəm/
noun
- A system of belief in which a group of people, such as a clan or tribe, considers itself spiritually connected to a particular animal, plant, or natural object (a totem), which is treated as a sacred symbol.
- In many cultures, totemism reinforces group identity and a sense of belonging to nature.
- Totemism often involves rituals and taboos related to the sacred animal or plant.
- Anthropologists study totemism to understand how early societies organized their social structures.
- A modern or figurative use referring to any system of symbolic representation or group identity based on a shared emblem or icon.
- Online communities sometimes develop their own totemism around shared memes or characters.
- The company's logo has taken on a sense of totemism among its loyal employees.
- Some sports teams have a kind of totemism, with mascots that fans treat as sacred symbols.