Final answer:
Rites of passage are ceremonial markers used by societies to celebrate an individual's transition between different stages of life consisting of separation, liminality, and incorporation stages, and can be both religious and secular in nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rites of Passage
Traditional ways that society uses to mark life transitions with characteristic beginnings and endings include rites of passage. These cultural practices have been extensively studied in anthropology and sociology, serving as ceremonial markings of an individual's transition from one stage of life to another. The rites often symbolize the end of one phase and the beginning of another, effectively acting as both a farewell to the past and a welcome to the future.
First identified by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1909, rites of passage consist of three main stages: separation, liminality, and incorporation. The separation phase sees individuals stepping out of their usual social positions. The liminality phase involves instruction and transformation, often with the help of guides or mentors. The incorporation phase is characterized by a formal reintegration into society with a new status. Common examples of rites of passage include birth ceremonies, coming-of-age rituals, graduations, marriages, and funerals.
These ceremonies can be either religious or secular, and sometimes a combination of both, such as a marriage that is recognized by both civil and religious authorities. Rites of passage serve not only as personal milestones but also to reinforce the social fabric of the community by publicly acknowledging changes in the status of its members.