Explain what Rites of Passage means and then describe at least two Rites of Passages for the Native American culture/religious tradition.
Rites of passage refer to ceremonial mechanisms that societies use to mark the transition of a member of society from one social rank to another. They can therefore be termed as ceremonies bounding important events in life like birth, wedding and death. They particularly provide individuals and groups in society with ways to handle tension that comes with changes during various occasions of life. By aiding these life path changes, rites of passage hold significant emotional meaning for both the person and society. The society must therefore be ready to help the individual members complete these ceremonies successfully.
There are various examples of rites of passage among members of the Native American culture. A vision quest is an example of such a rite of passage. The main intention of this ceremony is to allow for the individual undergoing it to discover spiritual direction and reason. This ceremony involves an individual being secluded in nature for a number of days in which he or she engages in serious spiritual union with the elemental forces of creation. The vision quest among the Native Americans symbolizes a change in someone’s life from being a child to a grown up. Apart from the vision quest, the initial hair cut for a baby is another rite of passage. This is considered as an important milestone in marking a baby’s birth. This involves a ceremony that is conducted after the birth of a child and is usually marked by a ceremonious dance.
Compare the Native Rites of Passage to one in our culture (religious or secular)
The ceremony involving the cutting of a new born baby’s hair in the Native American culture can be compared to the baby showering ceremony conducted in our culture. In both cultures, this is carried out to welcome the new born baby in the society and to act as a milestone in the baby’s life. The vision quest ceremony among the Native Americans on the other hand can be compared to the confirmation ceremony in our culture. During this time, an individual is left alone to comprehend about his relationship with God. He or she is the confirmed to mark a transition of his life to a new creature.
