Suspending Routine Duty: The Sociological Significance of Military Holidays and Ceremonies

Recently, the sociologist Amitai Etzioni developed a theory of the significance of holidays as “seedbeds of virtue” and agents of socialization. With minor modifications, Etzioni’s theory can shed light on the sociological significance of holiday celebrations and ceremonies in military organizations. This article focuses on two key aspects of military holidays that distinguish them from their civilian counterparts: (1) the centrality of the normative notion of “duty” in military culture and (2) the unique temporal constraints to which military holiday celebrations are subjected. Consistent with Etzioni’s claim that holidays function, in part, as agents of socialization, the authors examine holiday celebrations and ceremonies at a major organizational site of military socialization, the United States Air Force Academy. The authors explain how unique properties of military organizations and cultures shape the nature and sociological functions of holiday celebrations and ceremonies in the armed forces.