Our source is Hartmann and Blass's Thinking Ahead question 5 on page 20 of Quest 3 (2007).
- (5.) Do you know of a ritual or ceremony that a young person goes through to make the transition from childhood to adulthood?
In your culture, for example, what marks the change from the status of child to that of adult?
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Growing up in Australia, the change from childhood to adulthood was most obviously marked by getting a driver's licence. This typically involved your parents, in my case my father, taking you for drives as you studied the book of road rules.
ReplyDeleteAnd then you went for the test at the local police station. I'm not sure that I should have passed, but I did - I would have been a bit surprised had the local police not passed anyone in my family. Even after my father had had a stroke which really did leave him unfit to control a car, he used to drive around the local roads without a licence, which had been withdrawn when he failed the tests.
My mother is a bit more sensible and gave up driving about a year ago, although she still has a licence and can drive as dangerously as she always has. It was always a bit scary being in the car when she was running late for lunch or something. Now, she just lets my brother and sisters drive her from club to club.
Personally, I wasn't in such ceremony during my transition to adulthood. The similar ceremony my family and relatives practice is only when we are one month old that the monks cut our hair to bless us.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I know that there is a ceremony of transition to adulthood in Thai tradition. In the past, boys and girls wore a topknot on their head as a hair style. When they were 15 year old, there was a ceremony to cut the topknot.
I cannot think of anything. I do not know whether there is such a thing in Thailand. Actually, I think there is but I cannot remember. I quite confident that in Bangkok we do not have that ceremony. But in the rural areas, there might be some marks of changing. Marriage might be that ceremony.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious ceremony in Thai culture (Buddhists) is ordination (being a monkhood for a while) of men. It in fact is not mandatory. Most Buddhists in Thai believe that it will bring good things to one's and his family life. For me, I would not join such an activity to be a young monk, but I used to be monkhood when I was a child. There are a lot of people as well who don't want to join.
ReplyDeleteSo, I think the ordination in Thailand shows the change form the status of child to that of adult.
When I wrote my answer I didn't think about this. But your answer is very good that make me remind of it. I think it fits in the question and the ordination has been commonly practiced by Thai Buddhists since the ancient time until nowadays. But my answer does not fit in our experiences.
DeleteThere are few ceremonies in Thai Culture that function like that. First, I think of the commencement because among Thai middle class it is the sign of starting the job and earn their own living. Another one is to serving the military which is the duty of every Thai men legistated in Thailand. They also believe it is a duty and give back to the country. The most interesting one for most foreigner is becoming a monk. In most culture, a monk is a kind of career that you need to dedicating your whole life to serving the religion but in Thailand mostly they do it for only few weeks or less.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the question, I cannot think of any ceremonies. But after I read your comment, I think I agree with you, especially, that people in the middle class starting their job is the thing that make them become adults.
DeleteBeing soldier or monk are other things that show adulthood. However, I just realize that these two are only related to men. So, how about women?
I'm not sure that having a driving license is the transition activities from childhood to adulthood.
ReplyDeleteBecause in Thailand, government allow people who are at least 18 years old to have a driving license and believe that people who are older than 18 years old will have enough responsibility to be adult and making any decision.
By the way, if specific only ritual that can transition a young person to adulthood... I can't think of any activity right now.
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DeleteIt might be. It is similar to the Australian's as Peter mentioned. But now I've not had my own driver's license yet. So could that mean I'm now still young? Is that right? (Just for joking!)
DeleteAnd since I lost my driver's licence many years ago, have I slipped back into childhood?
DeleteI drove a car in my senior year at high school, but I have to confess that after it had established my status as an adult, I did not enjoy driving. And I was never very good at it. I never drove after starting university.
I have no idea about this kind of ritual and ceremony. I think I know one ritual happened in Thailand. but I don't know exactly about it. It is a kind of ritual that is common in North eastern of Thailand. When twins born with different gender like boy and girl, they have to marry to each other at very young age. I don't know the purpose of this ritual. It may be done to prevent some bad luck that could happen with the twins, but I think it is very weird that sister and brother with same blood have to marry each other.
ReplyDeleteThere is not a very formal ceremony in my hometown in the mordern time. For us Chinese young people, entering university may infer that you are 18 years old, you should act like an adult.
ReplyDeleteIn the old time of China, there was a ceremony for the translation from childhood to abulthood. In the ceremony, they will change their hair style.
Wow! That's interesting when changing hairstyle is symbolic of coming of age in ancient China. I think of the hill tribes women who change their clothing after marrying. I think that also happen in ancient China and in many traditions too. The women are more likely have burden to tell their marital status than men.
DeleteWow, I also surprised with your answer as well as P'union.
DeleteMoreover, P'unioun's answer can let me curious that why women need to change their marital statue while men doesn't need to .... it sound disadvantage for woman to marry with a man.