Saturday, November 21, 2015

What are some cultural rights of passage (For example, Bar Mitzvah, Quinceanera, etc.), and what images or pictures do you automatically think of when someone refers to culture?

Cultural rights of passages are coming of age ceremonies. A teenager transitioning into adulthood may partake in a rights of passage ceremony, reflecting his or her culture. Culture is the specific customs and beliefs of a certain group of people and can include music, arts and style of clothing.
As you mentioned in your question, a Bar Mitzvah and Quinceaneara, are a few of these ceremonies. In Jewish culture, a Bar (Male) or Bat (Female) Mitzvah is a religious ceremony for a Jewish boy or girl who reaches the age of 13 and can now observe religious doctrine and partake in worship service. A Bar or Bat Mitzvah may be celebrated with a lavish party. In Latin American culture, a Quinceaneara celebrates a young woman's 15th birthday and acknowledges her transitioning from a child to a young adult. With similarities to a Bat/Bar Mitzvah, a Quinceaneara is celebrated with a luxurious party.
A few additional examples of rites of passage include a Debutante ball and Sweet Sixteen.


The cultural rites of passage that first come to mind for me are the two you listed, both of which can be classified as coming of age ceremonies. Bar Mitzvah (a Jewish boy who reaches the age of thirteen) and Bat Mitzvah (a Jewish girl who reaches the age of twelve) are terms that signify one has reached the age of obligation to serve the commandments of Jewish law, and this can also refer to a large celebration that coincides with this milestone.
In many regions, including South America, a girl who reaches the age of fifteen is called a quinceañera, a term which combines the words quince (which is the number fifteen) and años (which means years). A large birthday celebration often accompanies this milestone, and the party itself is also referred to as a quinceañera. Equivalents to a coming of age ceremony in American culture may include a "Sweet Sixteen" party, which is thrown to celebrate the pivotal birthday in which a teenager is eligible for a driver's license, and a debutante ball, in which members of the upper class are formally presented to society in a lavish celebration.
Religious rites of passage such as circumcision, or the surgical removal of foreskin, and christening, which occurs when water is sprinkled as a sign of admission to the Christian Church, occur in infancy and extend across cultures. Circumcision is common in Judaism, Islam, and various Christian denominations, and christening is common in Catholicism and Christianity, though in other branches of Christianity the practice of believer's baptism is utilized instead, and occurs following a profession of faith at a mature age. Other important Catholic rites of passage include Confirmation, First Eucharist, and First Confession, and marriage is an important religious rite of passage in almost every culture.
A few things that come to mind regarding your second question: I associate hijabs with Muslim culture, I associate dashikis with African culture, and I associate the Confederate flag with rural areas in the southern United States, even though I know many people with roots in these cultures who don't dress or associate themselves with those items—therefore, these associations likely may be misinterpretations. The most vivid cultural image I can recall is Holy Week in Spain, filled with religious imagery, extravagant processions and ceremonial dress, while my husband most associates Spanish culture with bullfighting. My Spanish culture association is primarily influenced by time spent traveling, and my husband's is most influenced by popular culture. I think media can affect (and often, simplify) the immediate associations we make, and I would suggest that life experience plays an equally important role. Combining media representations of subject matter with actual relationships is an excellent way to maintain a well-balanced outlook on any subject.
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/13-amazing-coming-of-age-traditions-from-around-th/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/semana-santa-in-spain-1644106

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