"a notion that this stuff bespeaks of a greater significance that might stop short of Neo-Paganism, but is nevertheless shrouded in a mystique that isn't far off, "

Yes, I follow this - and yet the the greater percentage of attendees of any collective ritual will no doubt say "Oh is it really? That's interesting." Then continue to shout "Boo!" at the appointed moment, wave their lighters slowly in the air, throw toast, eat pancakes or whatever on other ascribed days while promptly forgetting all about any supposed "deeper meaning" of the village's annual waddling green mann/jack frost/bear till next year's festivities. In fact if interviewed by local telly's local investigative journalist asking about the "deeper Pagan significance" of these weird events, they'll be most likely say something like "It's a lovely opportunity for the village to get together!"

As for "the individual is all there is" this may be so on an abstract philosophical level but not on any level that is easily reconciled with the reality of lived experience - particularly in a society such as ours which uses solitary confinement as one of it's most extreme forms of punishment.