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Coming of Age: Road to Adulthood (Xhosa and Maasai)

Figure 1: Xhosa boys in the liminal stage.

In South Africa, there is a tribe called the Xhosa. The Xhosa is one of the largest cultural groups from this region. This culture, like many other tribal cultures, have a coming of age ceremony/initiation. In this culture there are both male and female ceremonies. Both of which include circumcision and isolation from the village. Abakweta (male initiate), have a longer initiation process compared to the females. The males are taken to huts, cut off by the rest of the village that was constructed by the parents. Before leaving to the hut, his head is shaved, and he is given a loincloth and a blanket. The boy is also smeared with white clay all over his body. (Figure 1) While he waits in the hut, a surgeon arrives and performs the surgery. The newly circumcised man will then return back to the village once he is fully healed. To 'seal the deal', so to speak, the village sacrifices a goat. As for the female, there is no actual circumcision surgery. There is however, a period of seclusion which can last about a week. During this week, the intonjane (female initiate), is hidden from the view of the rest of the village. While hidden, the village perform sacrificial rituals and dances. 

Figure 2: Maasai boys in the liminal stage.

As for the Maasai who are native to East Africa, live in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. This cultural group consists of approximately half a million people. Like the Xhosa, they also have a coming of age ceremony/initiation. The Maasai have many different ceremonies that they must have to go through before circumcision. Women go through these ceremonies mainly for circumcision and marriage, while the men have different age divisions with every ceremony. As the men complete more and more ceremonies, the closer they get to adulthood. The most important ceremony being Emuratare (circumcision). Females traditionally used to get circumcised as well, but in the 21st century, women no longer go through Emuratare. The circumcision for men is done shorty after puberty. Prior to the operation, boys must heard livestock for seven consecutive days. On the eighth day the circumcision is then performed. Before continuing with the procedure, the boys stand in the cold, then take a cold shower in order to cleanse themselves. The operation itself is performed in the early morning right before sunrise. The operation is performed by a man who has many years of experience. After the successful surgery, the circumcised boy receives many livestock as gifts from his friends and family. Apart from these gifts, he also gains enormous amounts of respect due to his bravery during the operation. After the healing process that can last upwards of three to four months, the boys must wear black cloths. (Figure 2) After he is fully healed, they have become a "new person", and gained the status of a new man.

As stated earlier, both of these cultures, the Xhosa and the Maasai, both have a coming of age ritual/ceremony. Both have similar traits to their ceremonies. For example both of them are going from an old self to a new self. During the process of becoming a man, both the Xhosa and Maasai have a liminal stage, where they are neither a boy nor a man. Rather they are in between both statuses. Once they are men they are now in the regeneration stage where the former boys are now regenerated back into society with a new status. Another similarity between both of these cultures, is that they also have a particular way of dressing during the liminal stage. The Xhosa are covered in white clay and wear a loincloth, while the Maasai are required to wear black cloths. In both cultures they believe that circumcision is what makes that transformation into manhood. Also during the circumcision, both cultures do not use any form of pain killers or anesthesia during the procedures. In both cultures the boys must wait until they have healed before being considered a new man. They do differ however in the way the boys are treated in the liminal stage. For example the Xhosa boys are led into a hut isolated from the village, and that is where they must await for the circumcision to occur. In which they must stay isolated until the wounds heal. In the Maasai culture the boys' surgery takes place out in the open are given gifts of livestock for their bravery of going through the surgery.

What I noticed about both these cultures is that in order to enter manhood, they boys must show that they are able to endure pain. This is why there is circumcision done to the genitals which is probably the most sensitive part of the male anatomy. Apart from the pain of the procedure alone, the circumcision is done without any sedatives or anesthesia. In my opinion, I think that is enough pain to be considered a man.

Marriages Ceremonies (Japanese and Spain)

Japan is an island off the coast of China, located in Eastern Asia. Japan is a heavily populated island with more than 126 million people. Japan is also filled with many traditions that consist of a wide array of different topics. For this instance the wedding ceremony in Japanese culture is a seasonal event. Japanese marriages normally take place during the spring and autumn. Before the wedding, like in western culture, there is an engagement. For the engagement the man could give the bride to be an engagement ring. However, traditionally they also exchange nine objects that symbolize their happiness.

1. Awabi (abalone): for good wishes

Figure 3: Traditional Japanese dress
wear for the couple. 

2. Kinpo-zutsumi: a ceremonial amount of money
3 and 4. Katsuabushi (dried bonito) and surume (dried cuttlefish): preserved foods that symbolize lasting quality
5. Yanagidaru: cash specifically for purchasing sake (rice wine)
6 Suehiro: a fan as a symbol of happiness
7. Konbu: kelp to ensure fertility and a healthy family

8. Tomoshiraga: linen thread to signify strong ties in married life

9. Mokuroku: a list of the lucky objects

(Things Japanese: "Weddings".)

Generally wedding the style is the traditional Shinto-style. This style is very private and formal. Since this style is very private, only close family and a few guests are invited to attend. Shinto-style weddings have recently started to decline with more and more couples choosing to go through a Western style wedding. The traditional Shinto ceremony takes place at a shrine. The ceremony is executed by a Shinto sanctuary, by a Shinto priest. Many restaurants and hotels have rooms with miniature Shinto shrines, so that couples can recite their vows to the 'Kamisama' (god.) To begin this ceremony, the couple are first purified. After both the vows and purification, the couple then exchange sake (rice and wine) in the 'san-san-kudo' (three-times-three) ceremony. This not only symbolizes the joining of the couple but also the uniting of both families. To finalize the ceremony, they give "offerings of small tree twigs called sakaki are given to the 'Kamisama'." (Things Japanese: "Weddings".) The guests attending the wedding are expected to give money. The amount they give is based on how well they know the bride. This money is then used to help pay for the costs of the reception. Throughout the reception the bride changes several different times. Towards the end of the reception, the couple cut the cake, and light a center display, and all the guests’ tables. Finally at the end of the reception the newly-weds give the guests gift bags.

Figure 4: A bride and her father
walking down the aisle 

Spain is located just north of Africa and connected to the southeastern end of France. Spain is also connected to Portugal. According to statistics in 2012, Spain's population consists of about 46.3 million people (The World Bank.) In Spain weddings are considered to be a really important event. Ceremonies expect to have a minimum of two hundred guests. Bodas (weddings) start in the evening usually at 7:00 P.M., and they end early the next morning. It was customary to use a mantilla (form of headdress), instead of the western veil. The mantilla was a very long, and would drag several feet behind the bride's traje de novia (wedding gown). The use of a mantilla died down, but has recently started making a comeback with brides wanting a traditional wedding. A traditional custom to a Spanish wedding is that the male would bring 13 unity coins called arras. These arras symbolized the groom's commitment to support her. Modern arras are exchanged between both the bride and groom, which now symbolize the wealth and finances they will share. In Spain the alianza (wedding ring) is worn on the right hand's middle finger opposed to the left hand's ring finger. In this culture's wedding they do not have bridesmaids nor groomsmen. They instead have to stand all alone at the altar. These weddings are usually quite noisy, and usually involve lots of fireworks once the newlyweds come out of the church. "Rice is still traditionally used, along with flower petals." ("Spanish Weddings.") During the banquete de bodas or convite (wedding feast/reception) the newlyweds go from table to table with a basket of detalles (wedding favors.)

In both these cultures, like most cultures, consider marriage to be a very important event in any couples relationship. There were not many similarities, except for the fact that the true traditional style wedding of their respective culture is dying out, being replaced with the western idea of a wedding ceremony. One more similarity, was the newlyweds give their guests a gift for attending the ceremony. There was however a lot of differences. For example, the most noticeable difference was who attends the wedding. In Japanese culture they have a small formal wedding while in Spain they throw massive weddings and receptions.

One thing I concluded about both cultures is that they pretty much don't have much in common. The Japanese culture is a relatively quiet one with small weddings, while the Spaniards are loud and noisy with huge weddings. What I believe is that the Japanese tend to keep things to themselves and prefer solitude. The Spanish on the other hand, seem to really like being around people and have a strong sense of camaraderie.

Death Ceremonies (Judaism and Korea)

Figure 5: Traditional coffin for Jewish burials. 

Judaism is a monotheistic religion that speaks Hebrew. The Jewish religion originated more than 3 thousand years ago in the Middle East. The Jewish population is believed to have about 14 million supporters. "Jewish tradition teaches that human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26)." (Black, "What to Expect at a Jewish Funeral".) Their funerals can take place in a number of different place. Most often it occurs at a graveside, but can also go to multiple places. Jews want to have the funeral take place as quickly as possible, but due to families being spread out they have to wait a day or two. These funerals also cannot take place during a Jewish Holiday. In Jewish culture, that parents, children, spouse, or siblings, are the mourners. Everyone else can grieve but they have certain responsibilities in the coming days. As for a casket, it must be biodegradable. A kosher casket is made up of wood with not nails to hold it in place. There is also no embalming or lining of the casket. This is done in order for the deceased person's body can decompose as naturally as possible. The only exceptions for this is when it is required by law. There is a certain way that things happen the day of the funeral. First they gather the mourners, the ones listed above, and they take them to a separate room until the service starts. Once all the people attended are gathered and seated, they move the mourners into the front row of the chapel. To start the ceremony, the rabbi says opening prayers. After the opening prayers there is the hespeid (eulogy) takes place. During the hespeid family members are asked to tell stories about the deceased loved one. Rabbis and cantors are specially trained to take this information and weave it together to paint a picture of the deceased. (Black, "What to Expect at a Jewish Funeral".) They then chant El Malei Rachamim (a prayer), this prayer calls the deceased by their Hebrew name, and says "sheltered beneath the wings of God's presence." Next they move the family members to another room, while they get the casket ready to be moved to a cemetery by the designated pall bearers. Once everyone is at the graveside, the pall bearers bring the coffin from the hearse. The time when they lower the casket depends on the community. It can be lowered before, after, or while reciting prayers. As the service concludes, the mourners are led to their vehicles and a phrase is recited. HaMakom yenachem etchem b'toch she'ar avalei Tzyion V'Yirushalayim (May God console you with all who mourn in the midst of the Gates of Zion and Jerusalem.) 

Figure 6: Korean Corpse wrapped in hemp cloth.

Korea is a located in Eastern Asia, to the west of Japan. Bordered by Russia to the northeast and China to the northwest and Korea is divided into two sovereign states, North Korea and South Korea. Korea has a population of about 74 million people. The way they go on with funerals really show how Koreans view death and how they cope with close family deaths. Koreans thought that if illness or natural caused was the reason of death, the dead's spirit would roam aimlessly and eventually turn into a kaekkwi (ghost.) In order to avoid this from happening, family members would try to spend as much as possible with the dying relative in their last moments. The family would through great measures to transport the dying back to their comfortable homes. Deaths fall strictly with Confucian traditions. Females were not able to witness the death of a male and vise-versa. No matter the relation to the dying person. When the person finally passes, traditionally the members who were there during the last moments can kok (wail.) They kok to show sorrow as well as guilt. The mourners had a certain way of dressing for the occasion. Men were in sleeveless coats, and women could not wear jewelry nor accessories, women also did not comb their hair. A relative would then take the dead's coat and go to the roof of his house and shout his name three times. After returning from the roof they would cover the corpse with it, this process was called ch'ohon or kobok. The family would send out obituary notices, which are then read aloud outside of the gates of the home, which was done to prevent bad luck. The day after the death, they clean the corpse and dressing it up. After, they feed the corpse 3 spoons of rice and leave a wooden spoon. Once the fed, they put coins into the cavity. This is done because they believe that to be eased into the afterlife. Once that is complete, they begin wrapping the corpse in either hemp cloth or silk, as you can see in Figure 6

. The corpse is then wrapped with rope seven times, and then the coffin is tightly sealed. As the coffin is carried out of the house, they drop it three times as a form of bowing. At the gravesite, a shaman wards off all evil spirits with a special ritual. The coffin is lowered by the eldest son, or by the father if it was the death of a child.

One thing I noticed to be similar between both groups is that they follow traditions very closely. A difference is the way the body is put into the coffin and the coffin itself. Jews used a minimalist coffin, to try and decompose the body as naturally as possible. While the Koreans wrapped the body in silk and then bound with ropes, then being tightly sealed in the coffin.

Based on these rituals, both groups rely highly on tradition when it comes to the deceased. Jews follow their traditions closely in order to provide a good afterlife for their loved one. The Koreans although they do some rituals for the same reason, they also to some rituals for them, to prevent bad spirits from entering their lives. They try to keep spirits very happy.