Essay On Rites Of Passage

“When a tradition gathers enough strength to go on for centuries, you don't just turn it off one day “(Chinua Achebe). Rites of Passage are universally practice by showing social change and balance that is taught, passed down and performed by families, nations, races and have become a part of many cultures.
Ceremonies such as christenings, puberty rituals, marriages, and funerals, which we hold whenever a member of society undergoes an important change in status within the lifecycle of the group, are considered rites of passage (Crapo 2013). In the American culture and life is continuously celebrated by many social ranks and at the end of achievement everyone meets death. Death or after life in American culture is celebrated in many different ways for the love ones who have parted to another place. Pamela nelson states Americans are more likely to observe the memorial traditions of the heritage.
In the African American community (which I am apart of) death is very much of an important aspect to the culture. It has been stated that death traditions, customs, procedures, mourning practices, burial rites, and even the structure of African American cemeteries differ greatly from that of non-African Americans.
The History

of the funeral traditions for African American funerals are deeply rooted from the time period of slavery when slaves could not appropriately bury their dead or have funerals to honor them. They often believe that the soul of the dead was to return back to Africa to be with the ancestors and finally be in glory and become free.
It has been stated amongst the African American community that death is not a time of sadness but a time to rejoice for the deceased no longer has to endure the trials and tribulations that they face in life. The deceased are indeed mourned and missed, however, death is also a time of celebration. In example the African American Funerals are mostly held in a religious church setting. The first order in which there is a viewing of the dead where people may come and pay respect to the deceased and the dead and take one last look at the deceased before the casket is closed.
Secondly they have what is called a home going services (which can be dated back to the time of Egyptians) in which most believe to be absent in the body is to be living presently in the afterlife. The home going service which I have attended and read about consist life achievements, community aspiration. Also favorite hymns and songs being sang by a choir, scriptures being read for peace for the family, words of remembrance and a sermon preach by a pastor speaking words of encouragement to those in morning letting them know that the deceased were in a better place without any pain or problems. Home going services turn into a celebration being grateful that the good fight was fought and that rest has come. At the end of the service the casket is carried out with much singing and wailing for the remembrance of the dead to the grave site Followed by a reception services were the family and friends have fellowship in private with favorite dishes to remember the life of the deceased with photos and unheard stories and memories. To have tight time schedules for the dead in the western culture are considered normal because death is not a topic that many would like to discuss in detail or grieve over.
Old age, death and after life is held on a sacred level in Japan.

Japan has different aspects in culture dealing with old age transition and death that are more detailed than western culture. There are considered sacred and of great discipline. Old age is celebrated in different stages. These stages include Kanreki, Koki, Kiju, Sanju, Beiju Sotsuju, Joju Chajo and Koju. Stages like kanreki are socially celebrated and remembered like high school reunions but some of the later stages such as chajo and koju aren’t celebrated because many don’t make that age of celebration. These ceremonies are represented on birthdays where they have self-reflecting. These special birthdays may be regarded as culturally guided rites of passage to death (Tsuji

2011).
When one dies in Japan family is deeply incorporated in to the caring of the dead and the traditions that need to be followed. The close connection between the living and the dead also eases the passage to death. Just as there are ceremonies for old age and transition there are ceremonies for the dead which come in daily day, month and year increments. These ceremonies allow the elder of the house to gain control of how the ancestors should be cared for in the grace period of the rituals, Priest come and visit periodically to continue rituals such as chanting for the ancestors at the temple. The author states that the daily link of ceremony keeps the closeness or the connection for the living to the dead. The Connection and care that’s incorporated politically on how a family should behave and the responsibility that is held. The responsibility is kept through the family to each generation for remembrance and value.
Ancestor worship (caring for the dead) gives hope to those apart of the family which are high in age are guaranteed that they will not be forgotten by other family members because of the well-kept tradition providing identity to each family showing the lineage by the doing of each anniversary ritual. These new rituals for the dead not only provide pragmatic solutions to the problem of posthumous care, but also enable contemporary Japanese to make choices not possible in traditional ritual (Tsuji2011). Although there are many traditional ways for burial new modern techniques have come along for those who have not had proper funds, couples without children and single women, those who have divorce and remarried have the option of descriptive tombs. One can chose where and how they want to be buried having the freedom of choice not to be buried with ancestors such as mother in laws and other in laws who they did not get along with.
Over all the Japanese rituals may have changed most are still honored. Remembering their family and trying to keep the connection between both worlds of the dead and living. Even with the modern twist of the burial ground such as scattered bones (Similar to American Cremation but the bones are not burned to dust ) out in the open which takes away a proper burial , family members can still have a bond with dead and connect with the dead or their ancestors.
As Written throughout the paper which was originally written to show the different in the passage that the dead go through in different cultures both cultures have shown that the death is deeply care for and not to be forgotten . In reading the traditions of japan it is concluded that Ancestor Worship for those who can remembrance of a family member brings a sense of identity even with the option of where they want to be buried. The Japanese culture creates a rites of passage from old age to help those prepare for rest.
Both cultures in some form or fashion whether in a home going service or death anniversaries have shown a sensitivity about transition from life to death and how the dead are treated. In America once the dead is buried it is rare that some love ones may visit the grave but there is no continuing connection which may be a part of the recovery process to help those who are alive cope with the lost. Reading this article about Japan culture in dealing with their loved ones has enlightened my perception of death for those facing the age near this stage of transition. In Japan they may grieve but their process allows them to feel that the one they loved or ancestors are still close. Rites of passage in both cultures symbolize change and how people come across that change with family and society