Potlatch is a term applied to ceremonies, comprised of songs, dances, feasts, and gift giving, that were celebrated by groups all along the Northwest Coast. While it may be organized and carried out differently by different culture groups, "the potlatch universally was a ritual of recognition, a public validation of rank accomplished by the ceremonial distribution of wealth" (Blackman et al. 1981:30). The reasons for holding a potlatch varied among the cultures, however, significant events, such as marriages, funerals, and transfers of rank or names on to one's children, were all potential reasons for hosting a potlatch. Disapproving of these festive gatherings, and the accompanying display and exchange of wealth, the Canadian Government banned potlatches in 1885. This ban was not removed until 1951, although many native people found ways to secretly continue the tradition of potlatching during the prohibition.