Term Paper on "Rites of Passage"

Term Paper 4 pages (1206 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Rites of Passage: Traditional and Modern

Rites of passage exist in almost all primitive as well as modern societies. The only difference is the manner in which they are celebrated. We first need to understand why rites of passage are important? Rites of passage help a person make the transition from one phase of life to another more clearly and distinctly. When a person is undergoing a major life changing moment, it is important to celebrate it in a proper manner in order to allow the person to register that change in life and to allow easier transition. In the Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Mircea Eliade (1987), rites of passage are defined as:

Rites of passage are a category of rituals that mark the passage of a person through the life cycle, from one stage to another over time, from one role or social position to another, integrating the human and cultural experiences with biological destiny: birth, reproduction, and death. These ceremonies make the basic distinctions, observed in all groups, between young and old, male and female, living and dead." (p. 380)

In this paper, we shall focus on one of the most important rites of passage connected with adolescence. This is a crucial period in the lives of both girls and boys. In many cultures of the world, rituals connected with adolescence have been common since ancient times. People celebrate the onset of adolescence to allow boys and girls to come to terms with this new phase in life.

Rites of passage in adolescence are a cross-cultural phenomenon. They have existed throughout human history and may be a significant factor in the development of a stable adult personality. Broken down into its most basic elements, a rite of passage involves (1) a separation from society, (2) preparation or instruction from an elder, (3) a transition (in the case of adolescence, from child to adult), and (4) a welcoming back into society with acknowledgement of the adolescent's changed status." (Delaney, 1995)

The celebration in most traditional societies occurs in the form of a ceremony that marks the transition. In societies where no specific ceremony exists, people usually gather for special prayers to announce a person's entrance into adulthood. In this regard, we shall now discuss the rites of passage of adolescence that exists among the Okiek.

Okiek is a traditional tribe that exists in Kenya. The rites of passage also called initiation are the same for both girls and boys in Okiek tribe. Though the initiation ceremony takes place separately for girls and boys but they do have ceremonies for both girls and boys aged 14 to 16. "The initiates are first ceremonially circumcised or excised. After this, they live in seclusion from adults of the opposite sex for four to 24 weeks. They paint themselves with white clay and charcoal in order to appear as wild creatures (cemaasiisyek). Certain secret knowledge is imparted by same-sex elders. The most important knowledge concerns the cemaasiit - a mythical beast that haunts the initiates during their time in seclusion."

The roar of the beast plays an important role. The roar must be heard by the adolescent and when he has learned to handle the instrument and can produce the roar himself, the ritual is considered complete. Similar rituals are also found in other primitive societies such as the Iria. Iria is rite that is performed for the girls who enter adolescence in the same Okiek tribe.

Girls from the ages of fourteen to sixteen enter into "fatting rooms" where they are fed rich local foods to make the body "come out." They are taught… READ MORE

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