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.

,

Sweet 16 Party

Cotillion, a

southern tradition

Prom

Quinceanera

Getting a Driver’s

License

Graduation fromHigh School

In tribal cultures, coming of age ceremonies are, in many cases, much more elaborate and can be truly terrifying.

To prove manhood, youngmen from an Amazon tribeput their hands in mittens Filled with hundreds of bullet ants whose sting is20 times more painful thana wasp. They do it for 10 minutes.

In a tribe in Brazil, manhoodis proven by injecting poisonousfrog toxin with a wooden needle. It causes violent sickness, but if a boy can survive it, he is ready to hunt!

Most rites help people to understand their new roles in society

A rite of passage is something that marks an important change in one's life. There are many, but the 5 main rites of passages are:Birth, Leaving childhood and becoming an adolescent, Leaving home, Weddings, and Death/Funerals.

In the book, A Boy Called Slow, Sitting Bull performs a deed which is so courageous and significant that it earns him a new and more respected name. 

The first rite of passage every person goes through is birth. Birth is a major adjustment for the infant as he/she leaves the familiarenvironment of the womb and takes his/her place in the world. Naming a baby is a part of this birth rite.

JOURNAL ENTRY

Write about something you have done or would like to do that would prove you are worthy of leaving your childhood behind and gaining a new respect for yourself by becoming an adolescent.