Monarchs have long been considered fairy tales and myths since the beginning of time, but the reality is that these people are very real and some still exist today. Often containing religious symbolism, these ceremonies are meticulously planned and executed and are, in large part, determined by the location of the monarchy. The act of coronation refers to the inauguration or authorized enthronement of the monarch and does not imply that it is a public event. These rituals often include the taking of special vows by the monarch, acts of worship by the common populace, and possibly the performance of other acts of a ritual nature that are likely to have special significance for a given nation. Coronations still take place in the UK as well as in a small number of other countries around the world (Bak, 1-10). In some ancient cultures, rulers were considered divine or deriving their power or right to the throne. from a deity. The Egyptian pharaoh was considered the son of the sun god, and in Japan the emperor was acclaimed and believed to be a descendant of the sun goddess. In medieval Europe, monarchs claimed a heavenly right to rule and many times saw their seat of power blessed by church leaders. Coronations were a direct visual appearance of these supposed religious ties, but in the current centuries the reduction of such beliefs is due to increasing secularization and democratization. Coronations and their religious elements have repeatedly been eliminated entirely or modified to duplicate the constitutional nature of the states or countries in which they take place. The coronation rite is the only one of its kind still existing among the monarchies of Europe (Lewis). Often, the coron... middle of paper... is expected to abide by all rules and regulations when installed on the throne. Even though the monarchs of Europe no longer exercise effective control over their countries, the people respect, adore and admire their kings, queens, princes and princesses. Works Cited Lewis, Brenda. "The Story of the English Coronation: England's Monarchs as God's Choice." British/Irish history. Suite 101. Suite 101, 2 February 2010. Web. 6 July 2011.Bak, János. "Introduction to Coronation Studies: Past, Present, and Future." Coronations (1982-2004): 1-10. Network. July 6, 2011.Hughes, Anselmo (1953). "Coronation Music Over the Course of a Thousand Years." Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association, 79th Sess.: 81–100. Network. July 6, 2011. "50 Facts About the Queen's Coronation." The official website of the British monarchy. The Royal Household, 25 May 2003. Web. 6 July 2011