INI
Major World Rituals and Rites of Passage - INI
Rites of passage (life cycle rituals) are ceremonies that socially recognize important transitions in human life. According to Arnold van Gennep's theory, they involve three stages: separation, liminality, and incorporation, celebrating milestones such as birth, coming-of-age, marriage, and death. This dataset systematically organizes major rituals including coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and other significant ceremonies from diverse cultures around the world.
rites of passage
coming of age
wedding
funeral
cultural anthropology
life events
rituals
folklore
[item.seijin-shiki-japan]
code=001
slug=seijin-shiki-japan
name=Seijin-no-Hi (Japan Coming of Age Ceremony)
description=Traditional Japanese ceremony where 20-year-olds pledge their awareness as adults.
age=20
category=coming-of-age
region=Japan
[item.guan-li-china]
code=002
slug=guan-li-china
name=Guan Li and Ji Li (Chinese Coming of Age)
description=Chinese coming-of-age ceremony based on Confucian tradition. Guan Li for men, Ji Li for women.
age=20(男子)、15(女子)
category=coming-of-age
region=China
[item.bar-bat-mitzvah]
code=003
slug=bar-bat-mitzvah
name=Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
description=Jewish religious ceremony marking religious adulthood.
age=13(男子)、12(女子)
category=coming-of-age
region=Jewish communities worldwide
[item.quinceanera]
code=004
slug=quinceanera
name=Quinceañera
description=Traditional Latin American celebration of a girl's 15th birthday.
age=15
category=coming-of-age
region=Latin America, Hispanic communities
[item.maasai-warrior-initiation]
code=005
slug=maasai-warrior-initiation
name=Maasai Warrior Initiation
description=Rigorous coming-of-age ceremony of the Maasai people in Kenya and Tanzania.
age=10-20
category=coming-of-age
region=Kenya, Tanzania (Maasai people)
[item.bull-jumping-hamar]
code=006
slug=bull-jumping-hamar
name=Hamar Bull Jumping (Ukuli Bula)
description=Intense coming-of-age trial of the Hamar people in Ethiopia.
age=15-20頃
category=coming-of-age
region=Ethiopia (Hamar people)
[item.land-diving-vanuatu]
code=007
slug=land-diving-vanuatu
name=Vanuatu Land Diving (Naghol)
description=Life-threatening coming-of-age ritual on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu.
age=7-8歳から
category=coming-of-age
region=Vanuatu (Pentecost Island)
[item.vision-quest]
code=008
slug=vision-quest
name=Vision Quest
description=Sacred coming-of-age ritual of Native Americans.
age=思春期
category=coming-of-age
region=North America (Various Native American tribes)
[item.sunrise-ceremony]
code=009
slug=sunrise-ceremony
name=Apache Sunrise Ceremony (Na'ii'ees)
description=Four-day Apache ceremony celebrating a girl's first menstruation.
age=初潮時
category=coming-of-age
region=USA (Apache people)
[item.debut-philippines]
code=010
slug=debut-philippines
name=Philippine Debut
description=Glamorous Filipino celebration of a woman's 18th birthday.
age=18
category=coming-of-age
region=Philippines
[item.japanese-wedding]
code=011
slug=japanese-wedding
name=Japanese Wedding
description=Japanese wedding ceremony with diverse styles including Shinto, Buddhist, and Christian.
age=
category=wedding
region=Japan
[item.indian-wedding]
code=012
slug=indian-wedding
name=Indian Wedding
description=Hindu wedding featuring colorful ceremonies lasting several days.
age=
category=wedding
region=India
[item.thai-wedding]
code=013
slug=thai-wedding
name=Thai Wedding
description=Thai wedding blending Buddhist elements with traditional rituals.
age=
category=wedding
region=Thailand
[item.scottish-wedding]
code=014
slug=scottish-wedding
name=Scottish Wedding
description=Scottish wedding featuring kilts, bagpipes, and unique pre-wedding celebrations.
age=
category=wedding
region=Scotland
[item.german-wedding]
code=015
slug=german-wedding
name=German Wedding
description=German wedding including symbolic rituals like log cutting.
age=
category=wedding
region=Germany
[item.japanese-funeral]
code=016
slug=japanese-funeral
name=Japanese Funeral
description=Japanese funeral centered on Buddhist rituals including wake, funeral service, and cremation.
age=
category=funeral
region=Japan
[item.hindu-funeral]
code=017
slug=hindu-funeral
name=Hindu Funeral
description=Hindu funeral based on cremation, with scattering ashes in the Ganges as ideal.
age=
category=funeral
region=India, Nepal, etc.
[item.tibetan-sky-burial]
code=018
slug=tibetan-sky-burial
name=Tibetan Sky Burial
description=Unique Tibetan Buddhist funeral practice offering bodies to vultures.
age=
category=funeral
region=Tibet, Tibetan Buddhist regions
[item.madagascar-famadihana]
code=019
slug=madagascar-famadihana
name=Madagascar Famadihana (Turning of the Bones)
description=Unique Malagasy ancestor veneration ritual of unearthing and rewrapping bones.
age=
category=funeral
region=Madagascar
[item.ghana-fantasy-coffin]
code=020
slug=ghana-fantasy-coffin
name=Ghana Fantasy Coffin
description=Ghanaian funeral featuring coffins shaped like the deceased's profession or hobbies.
age=
category=funeral
region=Ghana
[item.shichi-go-san]
code=021
slug=shichi-go-san
name=Shichi-Go-San
description=Traditional Japanese ceremony celebrating children's growth at ages 3, 5, and 7.
age=3, 5, 7
category=other
region=Japan
[item.irish-wake]
code=022
slug=irish-wake
name=Irish Wake
description=Cheerful Irish vigil with food and drink beside the body, sharing stories of the deceased.
age=
category=funeral
region=Ireland
[item.bullet-ant-initiation]
code=023
slug=bullet-ant-initiation
name=Sateré-Mawé Bullet Ant Initiation
description=Intense Brazilian initiation wearing gloves filled with bullet ants.
age=12+
category=coming-of-age
region=Brazil (Sateré-Mawé people)
[item.walkabout]
code=024
slug=walkabout
name=Australian Aboriginal Walkabout
description=Indigenous coming-of-age ritual learning survival skills in nature.
age=10-16
category=coming-of-age
region=Australia
[item.dipo-ceremony]
code=025
slug=dipo-ceremony
name=Krobo Dipo Ceremony
description=Female coming-of-age ceremony of the Krobo people in Ghana.
age=初潮時
category=coming-of-age
region=Ghana (Krobo people)