Rituals of Transition Is Our Right of Passage Through Life...

Rituals of transition exist in every culture passed down from generation to generation; seemingly, through time man has had a need to use rites to associate inductions into new phases of life. A Rite of Passage is â€Å"a ritual that marks an important stage in an individual’s life cycle, such as birth, marriage, and death.† (1) Daniel G. Scott of the University of Victoria, British Columbia has stated, â€Å"the rite of passage, known as initiation or coming of age, was the central cultural form for the education and nurturance of humans from childhood into adult life using a process that clarified and affirmed new roles and status in the adult community.†( 2) French Anthropologist Arnold van Gennep created the phrase ‘Rite of Passage’ to explain†¦show more content†¦ix)† (4) Ceremonial rituals are found in all societies to mark the crossing of an individual or group to a new status or position in the community in which they live. Celebrations of these events are marked with everything from great jubilee to subdued acknowledgement of the journey. Rites of passage are compartmentalized into three different stages by as indicated by Van Gennep. These phases are pre-liminary, liminary, and post-liminary from the Latin word limen, meaning entrance or threshold. The initiate, is in the state of change or Liminality, showing humility and obedience by following conduct and dress as prescribed by those around.. Each of the acts in the ritual is representative of the transitional life crisis being faced by the one who has chosen to have these rights bestowed upon them whether by their choosing or not. With completio n of each of these three ceremonies, the individual has entered a new life and gained new status within the perspective community. (van Gennep, 1960) The pre-liminary phase is one of separation,† the ritual removal of the individual from society†.(5). The initiate, often times, is physically removed and separated from the group symbolizing the removal from society the individual’s former life. During this segregation many times members of the community, often the women, feign sadness and resist the separation of the men from them. This is the first step of the crossing over from one life to a new one. InShow MoreRelatedRites of Passage: The Journey to Adulthood1126 Words   |  5 PagesRites of Passage: The Journey to Adulthood The dictionary defines rites of passage as ceremonies that mark important transitional periods in a person’s life. It usually involves rituals and teachings that help shed their old roles and prepares them for their new roles. Although all boys and girls will go through a rite of passage to be considered an adult, the path they will take will differ greatly. The common point I have found them all to have is the age range at which this usually occursRead MoreAge Rituals For Females : The Bat Mitzvah, The Quinceanera, And The Sunrise Ceremony1422 Words   |  6 Pagesafter so many birthdays, a child has reached the coming of age and is celebrated through some type of ritual. I quote the coming of age because it is practiced differently from culture to culture. However, the underlying similarity is that it marks the time in which a child has reached a milestone in life that a society now views them as an adult. For this paper, I will investigate three coming of age rituals for females: the Bat Mitzvah, the Quinceanera, and the Sunrise Ceremony. To begin,Read MoreThe Rites Of Passage By Arnold Van Gennep1554 Words   |  7 Pagesand give meanings to the different parts of the journey. Through this transition, we will find that many of the societal roles of those who take on the journey are suspended. Particularly, Van Gennep discusses the 3 rites of passage using territorial passages to explain how the journey from one sphere or domain to another is joined by various formalities. The 3 rites of passage are pre-liminal (rites of separation), liminal (rites of transition), and postliminal (rites of incorporation). Turner furthersRead MoreThe Film Catch Me If You Can Promotes The Idea That Rituals1286 Words   |  6 Pagesthis essay, I will discuss how the film Catch me if you can promotes the idea that rituals have several meanings and hidden messages within them. I will support this statement using, Arnold van Gennep’s rights of passage theory, Maurice Bloch’s ritual and communication theory, John Beattieâ₠¬â„¢s instrumental act and expressive element theory, Harvey Whithouse’s theory on the relationship between the repetition of rituals and cognitive psychological approaches as well as, Malory Nye’s theories of religionRead MoreThe Death Of The Marine Corps1307 Words   |  6 Pagesrite of passage to entering adulthood. I did not join the Marine Corps right out of high school. It was about two years after high school and living on my own when I decided to join the military, however the rites of passage was often used in the military as a way to signify that individuals are now a men for joining the Marines. What makes these two examples not qualify as rites of passage is due to the fact that they were not sudden events. These events were more of a longer transition. 2. OneRead MoreRumspringa- the Amish Ritual2232 Words   |  9 PagesRumspringa: An Amish Ritual Introduction: In the Amish religion, there lies a pivotal tradition for many of its adolescent followers. There are a number of Americans whom are likely to have never heard of this rite; as it is practiced by a small demographic, consisting of roughly 200,000 people . Their tradition, referred to as the Pennsylvania-German term Rumspringa, can best be explained by the words translation. With rum-, translating in English to around, and -schpringe, meaning toRead MoreRites Of Passage Of The Native Societies2492 Words   |  10 Pagesof the transitional mark of adolescence to manhood. Rites of passage in some cultures are significant in which males are recognized as men after undergoing certain procedures and are conveyed differently; thus it helps them identify who they are in their family and their positions in their societies, as well as what the corresponding responsibilities are. Throughout the human history, there have been a diversity of male initiation rituals from different places in the world that although most of themRead MoreThe Struggle Of The African People1432 Words   |  6 Pagesit is our duty, at the very least to learn as much as we can from them. In efforts to learn from him as it is our duty, this essay will delve into the life, legacy and historical impact of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela born as Rolihlahla Mandela on July 18, 1918 in a village called Mvezo in Transkei, South Africa. His influence in government began as early as infancy considering his father served as a counselor to tribal chiefs. As a child, Nelson expressed male right-of-passages through playRead MoreGrief, Bereavement And Mourning1491 Words   |  6 PagesWhen a person encounters death, they go through a normal process called grieving. It is a natural part of being human. Grieving in our own way can help us come to terms with, and accept, death. The following are common terms associated with grieving: Bereavement is what a person goes through when someone close to them dies. It is viewed as a state of having suffered a loss. Mourning is a person’s outward expression of loss and grief. It usually includes rituals and other actions specific to each person’sRead MoreAre Religious Beliefs and Practices Changing to Reflect a New Era of Diversity and Choice?1734 Words   |  7 Pagestypical pattern in Britain and northern Europe. In these societies people still use the church for rites of passage, rituals that make a change of status such as baptisms, weddings and funerals. Similarly Bibby’s findings show that only 25% attended church but 80% said they have religious beliefs, identified positively with religious traditions and turned to religious for rites of passage. Although they rarely went to church, they continued to be interested in the supernatural. This shows that people