This hotlist has been created by Ann Salt for use with seventh graders. Last updated April 20, 2002.
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.us
Japanese
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.
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.
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.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.
South American Back to top
http://www.mjoe.org/cultures/amazon1.html Coming of age in an Amazon tribe with drawings. No pictures.
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.
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.