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The shift from childhood to maturity, or the “coming of age” of boys as young men and girls as young women, is a crucial milestone in everyone’s life. However, the age at which this occurs, as well as how a child celebrates their rite of passage into adolescence, are entirely determined by where they live and the society in which they grow up.
Looking back, we’ll never forget the grandeur of prom or the thrill of dancing at our friends’ co-ed bar and bat mitzvah parties, and why should we?
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Whether embarrassing or amazing, these were crucial occasions in our lives that should be remembered. On that subject, here are 13 of the world’s most unique coming-of-age customs.
- Jewish Coming of Age Traditions: Bar and Bat Mitzvah.
Young Jewish boys and girls around the world celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at the ages of 13 and 12, respectively, to affirm their dedication to their faith and acknowledge that they are now accountable for adhering to Jewish law. Following the religious service, a banquet is usually held to honor the young person’s hard work and accomplishment, as they have frequently spent weeks learning and preparing for this occasion.
- The Sateré-Mawé Coming of Age Tradition: Bullet Ant Initiation.
In the Brazilian Amazon, young boys from the indigenous Sateré-Mawé tribe celebrate their 13th birthday with a Bullet and Ant Initiation. The custom proceeds as follows: they hunt the jungle for bullet ants, which are sedated by a leader and submerged in a herbal solution. The ants are then woven into gloves, with the stingers facing inward. An hour or so later, the ants awaken even more furious than before, and the initiation begins. Each boy must wear the gloves for ten minutes.
Enduring the agony symbolizes the boys’ preparedness for masculinity; few cry out because doing so would indicate weakness. Each boy will wear the gloves 20 times over the course of several months before his initiation is complete.
- Rumspringa is an Amish coming of age tradition.
Rumspringa is the time when Amish kids turn 16 and are finally allowed to spend unsupervised weekends away from their families. During this period, people are encouraged to indulge in any pleasures they like, whether it is modern dress or alcohol. The goal of this phase is to provide Amish youth the opportunity to see and experience the world beyond their culture and upbringing. As a result, they have complete freedom to return to their community and way of life. Those who return are baptized and become devoted members of the Amish church and community, effectively ending Rumspringa (but only before the age of 26).
- The Hispanic Coming of Age Tradition: Quinceanera
In many parts of Central and South America, teenage girls celebrate their Quinceaneras when they turn fifteen. The coming-of-age custom usually begins with a Catholic mass in which the girl renews her baptismal vows and reaffirms her dedication to her family and religion. Following the liturgy, friends and family gather for a fiesta to eat and dance.
- American Coming-of-Age Tradition: Sweet 16
While less based in tradition, the 16th birthday is significant for American kids since it represents the legal age at which they can drive an automobile. Some lucky kids commemorate the day with an extravagant party and possibly a new car, as shown on the MTV show My Super Sweet 16.
- Inuit Coming-of-Age Tradition on North Baffin Island
Inuit boys on North Baffin Island have traditionally gone out into the wilderness with their fathers between the ages of 11 and 12 to hone their hunting abilities and acclimate to the severe northern conditions. As part of the ritual, a shaman would be summoned to facilitate communication between humans and animals. Today, however, this tradition has been extended to young girls as well, with “outcamps” built away from the community to pass down and practice ancient skills by young men and women.
- Khatam Al Koran Coming of Age Tradition in Malaysia.
In Malaysia, 11 is a noteworthy birthday for certain Muslim girls since it is the period when they can participate in Khatam Al Koran, a prestigious ceremony that symbolizes their maturation at their local mosque. Girls spend years studying the Koran in preparation for the ceremony, where they will read the last chapter in front of relatives and family.
- Maasai Coming of Age Tradition in Tanzania and Kenya
The Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania have various rites of passage that initiate boys into manhood. Boys aged 10 to 20 gather to be initiated as the tribe’s new “warrior class” and are housed in dozens of specially erected structures. The lads spend the night before the ritual outside in the bush, then return at daybreak for a day of singing and dancing. They drink a mixture of wine, cow’s blood, and milk and eat a lot of meat. Following these rituals, they are ready to be circumcised, marking the official transition into a man, warrior, and protector. Similar to other rites of passage, the lads cannot flinch because it would embarrass their families and diminish their fortitude.
For the next ten years, the boys will live at a warrior camp and acquire a variety of skills. Following the rite that marks their transformation from warrior to senior warrior, they are free to marry the woman of their choosing.
- Ethiopian Coming-of-Age Tradition: Hamar Cow Jumping
In Ethiopia, some grooms-to-be hold their own “bachelor party”—a rite of passage that they must complete before marrying. Participants must successfully jump four times over a castrated male cow while naked, signifying the end of their childhood. If successful, they will be regarded as one of the Maza, along with the other men who passed the test, and will spend the following few months monitoring these ceremonies in communities across Hamar territory.
- Vanuatu’s Coming of Age Tradition: Land Divers.
Bungee enthusiasts will enjoy this: in Vanuatu, a small island nation in the midst of the South Pacific, young boys come of age by jumping down a 98-foot-tall tower with a bungee-like vine tied to their ankles, barely keeping them from striking the ground. Is there a catch? Unlike a bungee rope, the vine has no elasticity, and a little miscalculation in vine length can result in fractured bones or even death.
Boys begin jumping around the age of seven or eight, though they can jump from a shorter structure. During their first dives, their mother will hold an object representing their childhood, which will be thrown away after the jump, marking the end of childhood. As boys get older, they will jump from larger heights to demonstrate their manliness to the crowd.
- The Japanese Coming of Age Tradition: Seijin-no-Hi
In Japan, the second Monday of January is a special day when 20-year-olds can dress up in their finest traditional garb, attend a ceremony at local city offices, receive gifts, and party to their hearts’ content with friends and family. It’s the Coming of Age Festival, also known as Seijin-no-Hi.
The tradition dates back over 1200 years and celebrates the age at which Japanese youth are considered mature, contributing members of society.
- Confucian Coming of Age Traditions: Ji Li and Guan Li.
Ji Li (for girls) and Guan Li (for boys) are Confucian-style coming-of-age rites that have recently gained popularity in various parts of China. The rituals often recognize youth who have reached the age of 20, and they provide an enjoyable occasion to dress in traditional attire. For the girls, there is also a time to engage in traditional Ji Li customs, including making hair buns, fastening hair pins, and paying honor to Huangdi, a Chinese ancestor.
- Apache Coming-of-Age Tradition: Sunrise Ceremony
There is no tolerance for shyness among the young Apache girls. While this event is rarely performed today, traditionally, all females were forced to complete the sunrise ceremony, also known as Na’ii’ees or the puberty ceremony, in the summer following their first menstruation. During the four-day ceremony, the females must follow particular regulations, including not washing, touching their flesh, or drinking from anything other than their drinking tubes. They must also rehearse the Apache Origin Myth, bringing each female participant closer to the first woman, also known as White Painted Woman, Changing Woman, or simply Esdzanadehe. They receive her strength during this specific period.
There are currently 1.8 billion young people on the globe. That equates to one-quarter of our population entering adulthood right now. However, young individuals cannot make a smooth transition to adulthood unless they have the opportunity to do so, such as attending school or obtaining employment skills.
We must invest in youth because their human rights and needs are important, and unlocking their potential is necessary for a sustainable future. Now is the time for governments around the world to take action to secure a healthy and successful future for all young people.