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Your right to a rite (of passage)  Coming of Age Ceremonies from around the world

This hotlist has been created by Ann Salt for use with seventh graders.  Last updated April 20, 2002.

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East Asia  Australia   Mexico   North America   South America   Africa   General

Ceremonial rites of passage have been important to the social health of human societies for thousands of years, enabling individuals to negotiate their transitions with purpose and meaning, discovering gifts to be brought back for the whole community. Without them, people have no way to mark and celebrate their life-changes, unable to complete the old or begin the new.  --from the Summerfield Rites of Passage website at:  mikeb@ritesofpassagevisionquest.org

Information on this website can be obtained by contacting Ann Salt at:  anns@mail.ifls.lib.wi.usBengal ceremony image

 

           Japanese temple image       East Asian          Back to top

           http://tanutech.com/japan/seijin1.html Brief information about ceremony for 20 year olds in Japan.

           http://www.tokujo.ac.jp/Tanaka/WWW97/Hello4/megumi.html Narrative description of event.  No pictures.

           http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/japan1.html  Excellent information and drawings about Japanese ceremony.

          http://www.rice.edu/projects/topics/internatl/holidays/coming-of- age2.htm  Article about unruly event.  1 picture.

            http://jin.jcic.or.jp/kidsweb/calendar/january/seijinshiki.html  Comprehensive information.  1 picture.

       http://www.nfm.go.kr/eng_2002/hall_3/coming_1.html  Brief, chronological information with pictures.

       http://www.iov.org.tw/english/p_04a_5.htm  "Turning 16" ceremonies described (mid page); pictures included.

         http://www.pct.org.tw/english/news2578_2.htm Church ceremony (including Aboriginal students)  described briefly.

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          Australian waterfall image   Australian:    Back to top

       http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/australia1.html Excellent information and drawings.  No pictures.

       http://www.tacp.gov.tw/english/intro/rite/life2.htm  Brief, clear information on many rites of passage.  Pictures.

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          Mexican sunrise image        Mexican  Back to top

       http://clnet.ucr.edu/research/folklore/quinceaneras/  Five interviews with participants.  No pictures.

          http://gomexico.about.com/library/weekly/aa991212a.htm?terms=quinceanera  Good information.  No pictures.

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         North American lighthouse image      North American  Back to top

       http://www.redrockreview.com/yavapceremony.html  News story with several photographs.  Intriguing!

         http://www.geocities.com/tmartiac/yupanqui/apachesunrise.htm  Comprehensive site with excellent photos..

         http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/history_culture/sunrise_ceremony/7_26_ 01apache_ceremony.html  Great site!

           http://collections.ic.gc.ca/art_context/bar.htm  Brief, excellent information.

          http://www.mjoe.org/bm.html  Detailed explanation of the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, including ritual objects.

       http://www.afsc.org/qsb/sp9810.htm  Brief news article about ceremony for young women with one photograph.

           http://www.cabrillo.cc.ca.us/divisions/socsci/anthro/index/menstruation.html  Puberty rites of several nations.        

       www.nativetelecom.org/realmedia/video/kinaalda  Video footage of ceremonial events.  Requires Real Player.

            http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/navajo1.html  Drawings, recipes.  Very understandable.  No pictures.

       http://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/walker/seasonal.html  Limited information on ceremony for Nez Perce.

       http://www.paganspath.com/magik/grimoire/comeage.htm  Excellent site but no pictures.

         http://www.ethicalsociety.org/children/COA-MATT.htm  Multi-faceted coming of age program in Washington.

          http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/youthinfo.html  Vision quest for teenagers in California.

       www.earthcircle.org/sadiemoon.html  Narrative from witness of a coming-of-age ceremony of a young girl.

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           Amazon river image      South American  Back to top

        http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/amazon1.html  Coming of age in an Amazon tribe with drawings.  No pictures.

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           African horizon image           African  Back to top

       http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/nkanu/ini.htm  Excellent section on the Nkanu initiation rites.  Many pictures.

       http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/flashback/9607.html  Photo and brief article about Kentani tribe.

         http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/masaai1.html  Excellent information, drawings.  NOTE:  Describes clitoredectomy.

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            Daffodil image      General Information for adults  Back to top

         http://www.grrlstories.org/TOC.htm  Essays on African American ceremonies.  Educational activities and photos.

         http://www.amnh.org/exhibitiedactivities/ons/bodyart/glossary.html  Information on body painting as spiritual act.

         http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/5753/mask.html  Mask project related to coming-of-age for teachers.

         http://www.mythinglinks.org/ct~ritual~puberty.html  Worldwide links to sacred traditions.

         http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/index.php  Coming of age in various cultures.  Jewish educational site.

         http://www.earthspirit.org/fireheart/fhpub.html  Thoughts on puberty & rites of passage from Pagan priestess.

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