Final answer:
Rites of passage mark social transformations in people's lives and establish a change in social status within their communities. These rituals can be prolonged ceremonies that help an individual prepare for a new phase in their life, such as birth, puberty, marriage, or death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rites of Passage
In many cultures, a rite of passage is designed to mark significant social transformations in a person's life and establish a change in their social status within their community. These rituals can be prolonged ceremonies that help an individual prepare for a new phase in their life, such as birth, puberty, marriage, or death.
For example, in Xhosa communities in South Africa, teenage boys go through a rite of passage called ulwaluko, which involves circumcision and a period of isolation. This ritual marks their transition into manhood and helps build bonds between the boys. Another example is graduation, which is a secular rite of passage that signals the completion of a particular level of education and the transition to a new stage of life.