THE RITES OF

PASSAGE:
An Entry To The New Stage
In Life
Sheila Mae G.
Lacerona

Rites of Passage
"The various rites by means
of which societies effect
transitions in the life of an
individual from one social
identity to another [include]
celebrations of crises in the
life cycle" Shakespeare

Rites of Passage
- Ordinary or ceremonial
events marking the
transition from one stage
of life to the next.

Rites of Passage

Traditional
Cultures

Rites of Passage
Hamar tribe in Ethiopia
- They have to be
whipped and after, they
must jump across the
backs of the four
castrated bulls lined side
by side

Rites of Passage
Pentecost Island
- They have to tie vines
in their ankles while
jumping from tall wooden
platforms

Rites of Passage
Mentawai islands
- young female
Mentawaians who have
reached puberty sharpen
their teeth with a rock
and chisel, and file them
down to points

Rites of Passage
Fula people in West
Africa
- Women must have
their faces tattooed
before they are
considered adults

Rites of Passage
Mandan Tribe
- The boys had to pass for 4 days
without sleeping. On the 5th day a
wooden skewers were forced through
their chests and they were hung from
the ceiling. They had to smile through
the whole agonizing process, until they
finally fall asleep. Immediately after the
boys wake up they cut off their little
fingers as an offering to the spirits and
are welcomed into manhood.

Rites of Passage
Satere-Mawe in Amazon
India
- Young boys from this tribe
have to wear gloves made
of bullet ants with inward
-pointing
The bullet
ants have
the MOST
stingers
as they
PAINFUL
STING
OF
ANY
INSECT.
dance for 10 minutes
It causes paralysis and
without flinching
throbbing pain for UP TO 24

Rites of Passage

Modern
set-ups

Rites of Passage
America
- the 16th birthday is
nonetheless an
important one for
American youth, as it
marks the time when
they are legally

Rites of Passage
Jews
-Around the world, young
Jewish boys and girls
celebrate their Bar and Bat
Mitzvahs at age 13 and 12 in
order to demonstrate their
commitment to their faith and
recognize that they are now
responsible for following

Rites of Passage
Philippines
- boys would have to be
circumcised

Rites of Passage

Why ?

Rites of Passage
- To be accepted in a particular
group or categorized in a
higher social status
- Identity of the individual
would eventually be
transformed
- These rites of passage has
transformative power for the
individual undergoing such
rituals.

Rites of Passage
- provides the space for the
community to transmit its
core values and confer the
role responsibilities
appropriate to the initiates
stage of life, thus insuring
cultural continuity, a sort
of knitting together of the
generations.