Coming of Age Rituals

This week we are exploring one final aspect of identity: coming of age rituals.  There’s probably no more important transition in an individuals life that that from childhood to adulthood.  We know this is very true in American culture, as students graduate, go to a prom and then either join the military, go to work, or go to college.  In class, we are going to explore and research some diverse cultural examples of coming of age ceremonies, such as: the Aboriginal (Australia) ‘Walkabout’, Apache Sunrise Ceremony (Na’ii’ees), Christian ‘Confirmation’, Japanese ‘Seijin no hi’, Jewish ‘Bat (Bar) Mitzvah’, Muslim ‘Khtme Qur’an’, Hispanic ‘Quinceanera’, Amish ‘Rumspringa’, Thailand ‘Poy Sang Long’, Hindu ‘Upanayanam’, and American Graduation & Prom.

Assignment: Students will divide into groups of four.  Each student will choose one of the ‘Coming of Age’ ceremonies listed, research it online and tell five facts related to it. (rotating work)  Students working in groups will create their own fictional ‘Coming of Age’ ritual & ceremony (group work).

Be sure to include one or more of the following:

• Contact with the natural environment: One or more days spent in nature, experiencing isolation, beauty and grandeur.
• Ordeal: A test of strength, self-discipline, and endurance: a fast, an all night vigil, a difficult task.
• Solitude: A complete physical withdrawal from the pressures of life.
• Public recognition: An “…announcement, ceremony or gathering with family and friends…” to acknowledge the person’s new status.
• Symbolic representations: Some object that symbolizes the person’s new status: a totem, ring, etc.