Moed Katan 20 Mourning Rituals

We delve into Jewish mourning rituals in today's daf.  The rabbis debate and then decide who mourns for whom, on which days, and for how long.  They consider where these traditions come from (using proof texts and customs described in aggadot).   The rabbis spend a good chunk of time on understanding when mourning days are foregone because of the requirement to celebrate on Festival days.  

Many of the mourning rituals described in today's daf are practiced regularly among even less observant Jews. To comfort a mourner by refraining from greeting; to demonstrate mourning by rending clothing and by removing shoes - these are other example are detailed today.  

On occasion, the seven-day shiva period continues to be shortened due to the timing of 'conflicting' holidays.  I have spoken with numerous friends and acquaintances who feel cheated out of their seven-day mourning.  In less observant communities, the traditions of mourning are so deeply expected that they have taken on greater importance than almost any other Jewish ritual practice.  

Part of me wishes that the larger Jewish community was more aware of other Jewish rituals - the celebrations and the rest; the fasts and the learning.  Every day could be built around these rituals, each bringing greater meaning to otherwise dull tasks.  But another part of me appreciates that there must be something particularly special about our mourning rituals to have allowed them to survive when so much else is ignored.