1. Rite of Passage and Rituals

2. What’s a rite of passage?

3. What’s a rite of passage?

4. Why are rituals (and rites of passage) important?
“The rituals tell teenagers that it is time to change the way they think and live; it tells the community that the children are now adults, to be treated with equal status and rights.”

5. 2 Examples of Rite of Passage Rituals:
Read 2 examples: graduating senior and West African boy, a member of the Dagara tribe
Ritual: Any activity or event performed in a set manner
Rite of passage: transition from childhood to adulthood
Some rituals mark or acknowledge this transition

6. Some Other Examples…
Examples of events: graduation ceremonies, church services, and memorial services
Examples of activities: proper attire for an event, how you greet your friends, decorating the Christmas tree, birthday song and party, dinner table setting

7. Why do we need rituals and rites of passage?
Add meaning to our lives
Help us to cope and understand
Order
Help to establish common experiences
Strengthen society and community
The older generation can be confident in younger generation

8. Rite of Passage Steps:
1. The Separation- an individual is separated from everyday life and what s/he once knew
Individual leaves home, family, and former life—can be forced or by choice
“the monster”

9. Rite of Passage Steps:
2. Initiation/Transformation-an individual’s way of thinking and behaving changes
Length of time varies
“death” (of dependent self)
“reborn” “(as adult)
Individual changes emotionally and/or physically to represent internal change

10. Rite of Passage Steps:
3. The Return- Individual comes back to community as an adult
Change is recognized
Important to individual and community
Uses new knowledge and skills
New knowledge and skills are helpful in the future