A shout, ring shout, Hallelujah march or victory march is a Christian religious practice in which worshipers move in a circle while praying and clapping their hands, sometimes shuffling and stamping their feet as well. Despite the name, shouting aloud is not an essential part of the ritual march, which varies by congregation and locality.
The earliest accounts of the practice date to the 1840s, where the ring shout was described as being a form of revivalistic Christian worship. Certain authors claim that the ring shout may be inspired by cultural practices in Africa that became incorporated as a part of Christian worship and imbued with new theological meaning. Ring shouts may occur when a congregant experienced the New Birth or became entirely sanctified. Ring shouts may also occur when the congregation perceives the presence of the Holy Spirit during worship.