Rites of PassageRites of Passage

Key Terms and PeopleKey Terms and People

AfterlifeAfterlife CremationCremation CryonicsCryonics Grief CycleGrief Cycle InhumationInhumation ReincarnationReincarnation Rites of PassageRites of Passage RitualsRituals

Doreen KimuraDoreen Kimura Elisabeth Kubler-Elisabeth Kubler-

RossRoss Arnold Van GennepArnold Van Gennep

Rites of PassageRites of Passage

A Rite of Passage is a ceremony that A Rite of Passage is a ceremony that marks a person’s progress from one marks a person’s progress from one role, phase, or life, or social status to role, phase, or life, or social status to another.another.

What are some Rites of Passage you What are some Rites of Passage you can think of?can think of?

BaptismBaptism

First CommunionFirst Communion

Quinceañera

Sweet 16sSweet 16s

First Driver’s LicenseFirst Driver’s License

First DateFirst Date

High School GraduationHigh School Graduation

1818thth Birthday (In Ottawa) Birthday (In Ottawa)

First CarFirst Car

First JobFirst Job

WeddingsWeddings

First HouseFirst House

First ChildFirst Child

FuneralsFunerals

Different cultures around the world Different cultures around the world all have rites of passage, and they all have rites of passage, and they follow a pattern.follow a pattern.

Birth, Puberty, Initiation into society, Birth, Puberty, Initiation into society, mating and reproduction, old age mating and reproduction, old age and death, are all times in our lives and death, are all times in our lives that we deal with these rites. that we deal with these rites. Alongside these rites, there are Alongside these rites, there are rituals that go alongside these Rites.rituals that go alongside these Rites.

Three Stages of TransitionThree Stages of Transition

1. You are changed from what you 1. You are changed from what you were to something new.were to something new.

2. You remove yourself from society 2. You remove yourself from society temporarily.temporarily.

3. You are re-admitted to society as a 3. You are re-admitted to society as a new person.new person.

Japanese Birth TraditionJapanese Birth Tradition

Page 128Page 128

Aiko…is this accurate?Aiko…is this accurate?

What happens after these rites?What happens after these rites?-New clothing-New clothing-Jewellery-Jewellery-Body ornamentation-Body ornamentation

Mehendi PartiesMehendi Parties

Mehendi is the art of decorating women’s Mehendi is the art of decorating women’s hands and feet with henna tattoos to hands and feet with henna tattoos to celebrate weddings and other occasions.celebrate weddings and other occasions.

In India and Pakistan, a ceremony is In India and Pakistan, a ceremony is made out of the need to decorate the made out of the need to decorate the bride.bride.

The bride asks the groom to find his The bride asks the groom to find his initials in the henna. If he does, he initials in the henna. If he does, he “dominates” her and if he doesn’t, she “dominates” her and if he doesn’t, she “dominates” him.“dominates” him.

Body Piercings and TattoosBody Piercings and Tattoos

Why do we tattoo ourselves?Why do we tattoo ourselves? Why do we get piercings?Why do we get piercings?

Reasons for RitesReasons for Rites

Why have human societies adopted Why have human societies adopted rites of passage?rites of passage?

1. Help ease stress going through 1. Help ease stress going through new experiences.new experiences.

2. Give communities a pattern, 2. Give communities a pattern, allows them to anticipate allows them to anticipate consequences.consequences.

3. Entertainment3. Entertainment

Coming-of-age CeremoniesComing-of-age Ceremonies

Most of the ceremonies we can think of Most of the ceremonies we can think of have to do with the transition through have to do with the transition through puberty.puberty.

As we go through the teen years, there are As we go through the teen years, there are good and bad experiences, some alone, good and bad experiences, some alone, some with friends.some with friends.

A lot, even across cultures, have to do with A lot, even across cultures, have to do with preparing young adults for adulthood; preparing young adults for adulthood; strong enough to be productive members strong enough to be productive members of society, and mature enough physically of society, and mature enough physically to reproduce.to reproduce.

InitiationsInitiations

All over the world, different cultures All over the world, different cultures have different rites that involve have different rites that involve certain initiation rituals.certain initiation rituals.

A lot have to do with pain: Scars, A lot have to do with pain: Scars, mutilation, piercings, tattoos, etc.mutilation, piercings, tattoos, etc.

Others have to do with endurance: Others have to do with endurance: beatings, fasting, trials of pain, beatings, fasting, trials of pain, seclusionseclusion

Regardless of the reasons why, there Regardless of the reasons why, there are usually new dress, ways of are usually new dress, ways of speaking, and lessons about morality speaking, and lessons about morality and ways of the group (secular or and ways of the group (secular or religious).religious).

Amazon Tribal InitiationAmazon Tribal Initiation ScarificationScarification

Physical ChangesPhysical Changes

Different cultures around the world Different cultures around the world mark different physical changes with mark different physical changes with certain rituals as well.certain rituals as well.

Body hair,Body hair, Menstruation, Menstruation, Other physical changes through Other physical changes through

puberty, all of these things are marked puberty, all of these things are marked by different societies and cultures.by different societies and cultures.

The SciencesThe Sciences

Anthropologists look at rites of passage in Anthropologists look at rites of passage in terms of their relationship to history and terms of their relationship to history and cross-cultural studies.cross-cultural studies.

Psychologists look at the impact that Psychologists look at the impact that these rites have on individuals and the these rites have on individuals and the role they play in mental health and role they play in mental health and stabilitystability

Sociologists look at the place of these Sociologists look at the place of these rites within the different social groupings rites within the different social groupings of teens and explain the influence of of teens and explain the influence of gender, race, and economic status.gender, race, and economic status.