Is there a specific word that means "personal superstitious ritual"?

[Richard Steele]

For example, a Baseball player who insist on eating
EXACTLY the same meal before every game, or a performer
who refuses to go onstage without their "lucky underwear"...
that sort of thing.

I was discussing this with my Sweetie the other day, and
couldn't quite think of that word. Then 15 fruitless minutes
with a thesaurus got me thinking that maybe there isn't one.

Is there?

[SteppingRazor]

1. compulsion?

That may be a bit too mental disorder for ya, but that would describe it.

[skypilot]

4. Hmmm...

...I don't think that compulsion quite gets at the superstitious aspect of it, although I'm wracking my brain trying to think of something better. This is going to drive me nuts for the rest of the day. Dammit.

[idgiehkt]

2. I think for OCD they are called 'rituals'

At least some of the OCD people I've seen on television call them that. I thought of fetish but that is kind of a sexual thing.

[ghostsofgiants]

3. In skateboarding culture, it's called "madness"...

http://www.vbs.tv/player.php?bctid=607689594

But I'm not sure about in normal everyday life.

[Hugin]

5. Neurotic?

:lol:

[zingaro]

6. I think I have it.

Impulsion.

"im·pul·sion (m-plshn)
n.

An urge to perform certain actions without regard for internal or social constraints."

:D

[idgiehkt]

7. there is a great movie starring Meg Tilly called "Impulse"

It's just like that, people in a town start acting out their impulses all at once.

[Richard Steele]

9. That's the closest so far! But not quite it...

The thing is, I felt certain that I was just "drawing a blank"
on a word I had used before, or at least SEEN.

You know, that "it's on the tip of my tongue" feeling.

So, I'm waiting for that "AHA!!!" moment when I find the exact
word that I was trying to bring to mind.

And I'm starting to doubt that I'll ever have it, and wondering
if it isn't finally time for a nice cranial CATscan.

[zingaro]

10. Well please post it when you find it.

Now I'm a more than a bit compelled to know this elusive word. :D

edited for clarity

[Richard Steele]

11. If I ever find it, I certainly shall! nm

[Fran Kubelik]

8. Yes: Garciaparra

[Richard Steele]

12. Ooooh, you got me! I had my hopes up when I googled that!

It's extra funny, because that REALLY sounds like it could
be a word that describes a behavior or psychological condition!
:thumbsup:

[ChickMagic]

13. Religion?

:hide:

[unpossibles]

14. fetish?

not quite right though.

I think "ritual" is pretty close.

[Richard Steele]

16. Yes, "ritual" is as close as I've gotten.

But I just can't get rid of the nagging feeling
that there's a word for this particular TYPE of
unique, personal ritual. A word I've seen before,
but can't quite remember.

[Hand]

15. Quirk? nt

[Richard Steele]

17. "Quirk" really has the proper FEEL, but it's not quite it. Likewise "eccentricity".

[Hand]

18. I thought so, too.

Um... crotchet?

[Redbear]

19. "Wont" is a good word

because it refers to a personal habit.

"He rose at dawn and counted his toes twice, as was his wont."

[Richard Steele]

23. I enjoy using "wont" more than most, and more than I probably should....

Especially so since I started prononouncing it "won't"
as a deliberate affectation.
(Because that gives me more opportunities to ENJOY using
the word "affectation", as is my wont.)

But that's not it.

[wildhorses]

20. on edit

mannerisms

[China_cat]

21. Perseveration

[Blue-Jay]

22. There's probably a German word for it.

I'd bet that it's 50 letters long and hard to pronounce, however.

[zingaro]

27. I was thinking the same thing. Some disallowed crossword puzzle word.

[Richard Steele]

24. One last kick before I start a "help me invent a new word" thread.

[AzDar]

25. I call mine my 'THANG'. n/t

[InvisibleTouch]

26. Idiosyncrasy?

That addresses the personal quirks and habits, anyway, but I'm not sure it really gets to the superstitious aspect of what you're asking.

[smoogatz]

28. Neurosis.

One step away from OCD.