Initiation
A rite that admits a person to a group, an age grade or a spiritual society.
Also: initiation rite
An initiation is a rite by which a person is admitted to a new group or stage, such as adulthood, a secret society, a priesthood or a craft. It often involves teaching, a test or period of seclusion, a change of name or dress and a public return. Examples include the Xhosa ulwaluko, the Jewish bar mitzvah, the Hindu upanayana, the Christian baptism and confirmation and the Sepik crocodile scarification. Initiation both binds the person to the community and gives them access to its knowledge. Many societies have adapted their practices to modern law and health standards, while keeping their meaning.
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa