In the article it is analyzed the concept of «rituals» and its functions in the political discourse. The basis for the definition has been developed by political anthropologists E. Cassirer, A. Radcliffe-Brown, philosopher L. Mumford. Compared to myth, rituals arose earlier. Because for primitive societies myth and abstract language were too complicated symbols. Instead, rituals made it possible to express feelings of community and control its behavior. The article defines that rituals had the following functions: socialization, because every member of the community had its specific role during the rituals; legitimation of authority, because rituals supported the established rules and agenda; explanation of those events, which were important for coordination of social life; adjusting of the present to the political history with its past and future. Also rituals allowed to express collective and individuals feelings in a meaningful and controlled way. In the article, it is determined that today these functions are implemented by political rituals. There is used H. Laswell's approach for analyzing political rituals. He applied Freud's methodology for interpretation of the interrelationships between institute and individual. H. Laswell classified political rituals on three categories: those, which have Ego at its core; those that justify public morality (Super Ego); and rituals, that allow expressing of the unconscious instincts (Id). In the article there is analyzed the celebration of Ukraine's Independence Day as a political ritual. There are compared aesthetics and symbolism of the celebration accepted by President P. Poroshenko and President V. Zelensky. In the article, it is concluded that 2014-2018 celebration of the Independence Day has to be defined as a political ritual of «Super Ego». Since during those years the ritual fostered a sense of responsibility and obligation. However, V. Zelensky is trying to change the ritual into the one, in which the rational part of personality dominates (in Freud’s terms move it to the «Ego» sphere).