Cross cultural rites of passage/initiation

Cross cultural rites of passage/initiation

1. Transition - youth may be more related to change and transition, than to biological age. There are ceremonies and proceedings used to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.

2. Suri life : to become initiated into adulthood, Suri boys become 'rora' which includes acts of violence and having to complete menial tasks

3. Dassanech life : to become initiated into womanhood, girls from 10-12 years of age are circumcised. This ceremony is conducted by the elder females in the tribe. Once this has been done the girl becomes regonised as a woman and is able to marry

4. Debutantes : in England, upper class girls used to become women when presented to society at a 'coming out ball'. In rich American families this tradition is often marked with a large ceremony (debutante ball) where the girls wear white gowns and gloves and are individually introduced to society or audience of the ball.

5. Bar/Bat Mitzvah : Jewish boys and girls attend classes to learn about their religious heritage along with their future role as a Jewish mother or father. When they are 12 (for girls) and 13 (for boys) the young person is expected to show they have enough knowledge to take on their personal religious responsibility. The ceremony marks their transition to adulthood